On Friday the Sixth Form gathered in the sports hall for our annual Service of Remembrance. The service was also attended by representatives of each year group and a number of invited guests. The officiating minister was the Dean of Armagh, the Very Revd Shane Forster DL.

Mrs Murray welcomed everyone and confirmed that the poppy memorial had been refreshed at the Old Armachian memorial to those who have died since the end of World War Two. The congregation then sang ‘Abide with me’ before Bible readings from the Head Boy and Head Girl; the Chamber Choir sang the hauntingly beautiful ‘For the Fallen’ by Douglas Guest.

Mr Montgomery gave the address in which he talked about Old Armachian John Hamilton Bryan Barnes, known as ‘Jackie’, who left school in 1935. Jackie Barnes was a talented cricketer who played for school and Ireland before joining the Royal Air Force. He served in a Spitfire squadron before becoming a pilot instructor. Flying Officer Barnes and his trainee Sergeant Pilot Pounder of the RCAF were killed on the night of 22 April 1943 when their training aircraft struck telegraph lines while trying to land in complete darkness, the landing lights at the airfield having been switched off to protect it from an imminent Luftwaffe attack.

Following the address the Act of Remembrance was led by Mr Cardwell and prayers by Dean Forster. The service concluded with the singing of ‘How deep the Father’s love for us’, after which wreaths were laid at the memorial to the Great War by the Head Boy, Head Girl and the CCF. Guests then proceeded to the pavilion where a wreath was laid by Steven Philips of the Old Armachian Society in honour of former pupils who died in the Second World War. Following the ceremony guests were entertained with refreshments in the dining hall.

The Head Girl Isabella Speers and Head Boy Alfie Abbot represented the school in laying a wreath at the war memorial on Sunday morning. Also on parade was the Combined Cadet Force Contingent.