Remembrance Service 2021
Last week, we commemorated Remembrance Day. This is an especially poignant day for the Combined Cadet Force students here at Walkden who took a lead in the service.
Our Remembrance Service took place at the front of the Academy. Year 7 attended in person and the rest of the year groups had a live stream to their lessons. All staff and students stopped to honour the service men and women who have fought to give us the rights and freedoms that we enjoy today. We also remembered the serving members of the Armed Forces who continue to keep us safe and defend those privileges every day.
The Combined Cadet Force started the service by performing a drill, showing the skills and discipline promoted by the Forces. Their marching, saluting and turns were well polished and practiced.
Mr Hacker then addressed the Academy with a short introduction, ably assisted by Lucy and Caitlyn who recited verses of poetry from memory.
Mr Logie, Music Teacher, then played the Reveille on his cornet and the Academy fell silent for one minute. The Cadets signalled the end of the minute’s silence by falling out of their drill.
This was a short but moving service which was made all the more poignant by our Combined Cadet Force’s input. Well done to our Cadets for doing what matters most, showing their leadership skills, and being themselves always.
The Cadet’s have also been active in the community. As well as selling Poppies around the Academy and in our local Tesco stores, the Combined Cadet Force joined the Walkden Legion for their Remembrance Sunday Parade and Service. This was held on 14th November 2021 and our Cadets laid their own wreath at the War Memorial as part of this.
Captain Murphy wrote about the day, “We all met at the Walkden Legion Club at 9:00am. We began the day with a practice drill and then joined the parade. The Cadets had a surprise when we marched off at such a slow pace. This was the first time the Cadets had marched with a band. For some of the Cadets, this was the first time they had paraded in public. They were both nervous and excited but they did a fabulous job of representing the Combined Cadet Force and Co-op Academy Walkden.
Cadet Bradshaw was chosen to lay a wreath on behalf of the Walkden Combined Cadet Force, and, in my opinion, she was the smartest person there. Her uniform was immaculate. Well done.
Parents and Carers of the Cadets came to support them and took lots of photos. Many of the parents/carers said how proud they were of their children and we are proud of them too.
At the end of the parade we had refreshments in the Walkden Legion club. A lovely way to end the day with the community.”
Well done to our Combined Cadet Force. They are a credit to their families, our Academy community and to the Walkden community too.
If your child is in Year 8-11, and is interested in joining our growing Combined Cadet Force, please email Contingent Commander Bawden – mandy.jayne.bawden@coopacademies.co.uk.
