Connie remembers her father at school Remembrance Day service - 11/11/09

Published: 13 November, 2009

Connie Hickman, aged 7, laid a wreath in memory of her father for the second year running at Plymouth College Preparatory School's Remembrance Day service.   

Simon Hickman was a Major in the Royal Marines when he died of a brain tumour on Remembrance Day five years ago.  The wreath was also dedicated to three of Major Hickman's military friends: Major Jason Ward (died in a helicopter crash in Iraq), Marine Jamie Hutton (died in a military driving accident) and Major Stephen Ballard (died of natural causes in Iraq).

The service, held in the school's chapel, was a mix of hymns, prayers and readings.  Hamish Rose, Philip Habib and Charlie Haynes took it in turns to read extracts from Hentry V while Lauren Reed and Freya Lam presented Wilfred Owen's poem 'Futility'.  A further wreath was laid by two Year 6 pupils, who were supported by members of the Plymouth College Combined Cadet Force and accompanied by bugler, Sophie Brown, playing The Last Post.

"The chapel originally served the Royal Navy when this site was a military hospital and it contains a number of memorials to those who have lost their lives in times of war", said Headmaster, Chris Gatherer.  "However, our Remembrance Day service is not just about conflicts that happened many years ago but it is also about remembering service personnel, particularly family members of pupils, who are currently serving at home and overseas."