A Sutton school overcame the challenges of coronavirus restrictions to mark Remembrance Day with their guest of honour Lt Col Keith Spiers, from 7th Infantry Brigade & HQ East, commonly known as The Desert Rats.

A ceremony and activities at Mapplewells Primary and Nursery School, Sutton, were organised by Fran Marshall, support staff leader and learning for life coordinator, and Shelley Christie, extended services leader.

Fran said: “During the past 10 years Mapplewells has supported the Royal Green Jackets in marking Remembrance Sunday. We make class wreaths for representatives from the school parliament to lay at the Sutton Cenotaph.

“To not be able to carry out our ‘usual’ act of remembrance this year gave us a new challenge, so we decided to carry out this ceremony at school.”

Each child made a poppy from a plastic bottle and these were displayed on the front of the school premises. Outside, in front of the school, the Year 6 class recited the Ode to Remembrance and the Year 5 class the Kohima Epitaph. The rest of the school marked the event in their individual classrooms.

Fran added: “We were honoured to be joined by Lt Col Spiers, who led our ceremony and spoke to us about Remembrance, the history and significance of the date and time, and the importance of the date for us all.”

“The school’s poppy display will remain at the school to give the children, parents and carers an opportunity to see it and hopefully next year we will be able to join together as a school community to pay our respects once again.”

Lt Col Keith Spiers is pictured with his son, a pupil at the school, and the head boy and head girl at at Mapplewells Primary and Nursery School, Sutton.