YOUNG and old will join together to commemorate fallen soldiers at a special Armistice Day service in Chipping Norton.

Pupils at the town’s Holy Trinity Catholic School have invited residents from Henry Cornish Care Centre, in Rockhill Farm Court, to its school service, where they will present canvases decorated with poppies that they have made.

The children will then visit the London Road war memorial, before planting more than 100 trees outside the school to mark the centenary of the First World War.

Teaching assistant Katie Hickman said: “The children have been to the care home before so it’s nice for the residents to come to us. It’s incredibly important for us to remember and it will be good for the pupils.”

Pupils, who will all wear something red on the day, have made works of art with poppies by painting, drawing and sticking materials to the canvases.

About half a dozen residents, including 94-year-old Second World War Royal Navy commander Bob Badger-Smith, are expected to attend the service on Tuesday, November 11 at 9.10am.

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It will include about 60 children singing wartime songs, such as It’s a Long Way to Tipperary and The White Cliffs of Dover, and reciting poetry.

Members of the Royal British Legion’s Chipping Norton branch will also attend, with vice-chairman Steve Kingsford talking to youngsters about some of the town’s soldiers who died in the Great War. There are 95 names on the war memorial.

Year six pupils who have learned about the Second World War will dress as evacuees and attend the town memorial service at 10.45am.

Care home manager Natalya James said: “It’s going to be quite emotional for our residents.”

Pupil George Thomas, 10, said: “It’s important we learn about the First and Second World Wars in school. It’s also important to remember the servicemen and women who fought for us.”

Phoebe Rogers, also 10, said: “We went on a school trip to the steam museum to investigate the Second World War.

“It was like we were back in time. I especially liked the part where we acted out being evacuated.”


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