Oasis Academy Isle of Sheppey Remembrance Day service coincides with centenary celebration

As the country comes together to commemorate the lives of those in the Armed Forces lost in wars around the world, Oasis Academy Isle of Sheppey played host to local friends and community figures for a particularly significant remembrance service.

Remembrance Day marks the day World War One ended, at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. While this in itself is an important date, today also marks the 100th anniversary of the Royal British Legion in Sheerness, who meet at The Royal Hotel in Sheerness. The Royal British Legion were represented at today’s memorial service hosted on the Minster campus of Oasis Academy Isle of Sheppey, alongside the Isle of Sheppey Rotary Club, local press outlets, Police Liaison Officer, students, and other local figures.

Hosted by Head of Community Hub, Mr Paul Murray, guests gathered for a programme of speeches, poems and prayers, followed by a minute’s silence and ceremonial wreath laying. Students and invitees each laid a cross around a special bush outside the reception, kindly donated by the Sheppey Rotary Club and planted to commemorate the centenary of World War One. The afternoon’s service was concluded with a selection of refreshments and many conversations were had amongst the numerous guests, sharing stories and hopes for the future.

The service ties in with the academy’s unique status as a Peace Field’s School: being one of the first schools in the UK to partner with Flanders Peace Field, the site of the First World War truces. The link commemorates the relationship between sport, war and peace after the historic Christmas Day truce above the trenches in 1914. The service was a successful end to a number of student-led art projects within the academy, produced to commemorate the lives lost and recognise the struggles of those in the Armed Forces.