SCHOOLCHILDREN from across the Farnham area gathered at the Gostrey Meadow war memorial last Friday to pay their respects to the nation’s war dead.

The fourth annual school’s Armistice Day service was again organised by The Farnham Schools Confederation, a partnership of 18 schools in and around Farnham.

Shortly before 11am, members of the Royal British Legion Farnham branch, representatives of the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment and Sea Cadets paraded to Gostrey Meadow.

There they were met by pupils, members of the public, community representatives and local dignitaries to remember those who lost their lives serving in the country’s armed forces.

Among the gathering were Jennifer Sumner and her daughter Sam, whose ancestors Fred and Albert Sumner are commemorated on the Farnham war memorial.

Albert died in Germany in 1917 as a prisoner of war, while Fred tragically lost his life on November 4, 1918, just a week before the armistice was signed to end hostilities.

After a few words of welcome from the Mayor of Farnham, Mike Hodge, vice-chairman of the Farnham branch of the Royal British Legion, Debbie Hunter, read ‘What is Remembrance’.

This was followed a reading of ‘They Shall Grow Not Old’ shared by the Deputy Lieutenant of Surrey Commander Susan Lochner and four older pupils from Weydon and Heath End schools.

At 11am, the standard bearer lowered the flag and bugler Jonathan Osborne from the Sea Cadets played The Last Post before all those in attendance observed a two-minute silence.

A selection of poems specially written for the occasion were then read by Lola Crossman from William Cobbett School and Annabelle Richards from South Farnham School.

Wreathes and crosses were laid, and after the ceremony the pupils joined the mayor, deputy lieutenant and other guests for a reception in the council chamber.