College falls silent for Armistice Day

Students, staff, governors and guests paid tribute to those who have lost their lives in the service of their country at the Armistice Day service held this morning on the 93rd anniversary of the ending of World War 1.

The service in St Luke's Chapel was conducted by Senior College Chaplain Fr Paul Thompson and the address was given by The Right Reverend Christopher Herbert, retired Bishop of St Albans, who remembered the 330 past pupils who paid the ultimate sacrifice serving their country.

Some 155 Old Epsomians perished in World War I, 153 in World War II and 22 former pupils have died in other conflicts throughout the world.

The Last Post was played by Ben Galazka and James Booker before the congregation bowed their heads in reflection, observing the traditional two minute silence, which this year fell on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of the eleventh year.

The Book of Remembrance was carried to the high altar by Head of School Max Dialdas and Headmaster Stephen Borthwick and Chairman of the College Council Dr Andrew Vallance-Owen laid wreaths during the service.

Following the Piper's Lament, played by Piper Graham Dawson from the London Irish Rifles, the procession moved to the Garden of Remembrance for a short service where the Heads of the College's 12 Houses each planted a cross.

This week also saw the College welcome back a team of outstanding musicians for this year's Remembrance Concert held in Big School on Thursday evening. Internationally acclaimed pianist and broadcaster David Owen Norris was joined by singer Mark Wilde and cellist Joseph Spooner for an evening of music composed in or about the First World War.

The concert also included music specially composed for the occasion by College pupils Charles Ashie, Jake Seabold, Tom Simpson, James Booker and Oscar Green.

"The concert was a wonderful opportunity to welcome world-class performers into our community. It was a particular pleasure that they gave five world premieres of performances by our pupils. It is an invaluable experience for pupils to hear their compositions interpreted in this way and they will have learnt much from it," said Director of Music Graeme Lodge.