Remembrance Day has a special poignancy for a governor at a primary school near Nantwich when three generations of his family mark the 100th anniversary of World War One.
Fred Wright, chair of the governors at Sound Primary, will remember the fallen, including his own uncle and nine other pupils from the small rural school.
And the ceremony will also be attended by his son, John, and his eight-year-old granddaughter, Lydia.
The school, in the tiny hamlet, has maintained annual services to remember those who lost their lives in both World Wars and Fred has kept history alive for pupils by giving them regular talks about his memories of WW2.
“We were on the main bombing route to Liverpool and one bomber dropped eight bombs in a line – two of them fell in the field of our family farm and we went out to investigate the craters they left.
“We heard the bombing every night and took refuge under the stairs, with granny,” he said.
“I’ve also told the children about when a spitfire went down opposite the school. I think it’s important to keep alive the memory of those who lost their lives.
“Those who made that sacrifice saved our way of life for generations to come.
“The way of life would have been completely different. It’s good that our pupils remember the sacrifice made by their ancestors for freedom.”
Sound Primary was built in 1876 and there are two plaques in school remembering those who died or were wounded.
Fred’s relatives have been involved with running the school since the 1930s and he’s been a governor for 44 years.
One of the names on the plaque is John Frederick Wright – Fred’s uncle. He lost his life when he caught pneumonia after being injured in France in WW1.
As part of the November 11 commemorations, the school’s 96 pupils will be making poppies – many of them ceramic- inspired by the display at the Tower of London.
Wrenbury Branch of the Royal British Legion has raised funds so each year six pupil will receive their own copy of “Where the Fallen Live Forever”, a tribute to soldiers in the Crewe and Nantwich area who lost their lives, written by Mark Potts and Tony Marks.
Kirsty Newton, deputy head of Sound Primary, said: “It’s important for our pupils to know the school’s history and this is a big part of it.
“It’s good for them to really appreciate what has happened in the past, soldiers giving their lives for what they have today.”
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