Service children from across North Yorkshire have come together for an annual Festival of Remembrance to honour members of the Armed Forces who lost their lives in conflicts and mark how young people are paying tribute.
The moving ceremony, which is in its 13th year and is organised by our service children's champion, Angela Campbell, was held earlier today (Friday, 7 November) at Ripon Cathedral.
This year’s theme, ‘Seeds of Love’, has already blossomed through a series of projects and school-led initiatives, weaving messages of compassion, resilience, and remembrance into poppy-themed artworks which have been created by schoolchildren honouring the fallen soldiers.
The service was attended by more than 600 children and young people from 25 schools in the county and commemorated those who had paid the ultimate sacrifice.
The event had an added resonance as this year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
Executive member for children and families, Cllr Janet Sanderson, who attended the service, said: “Each year, these services are not only a poignant act of remembrance, but a beautiful celebration of the identity and achievements of the military children whose families make such an important contribution to our county.”
Executive member for education, learning and skills, Cllr Annabel Wilkinson, who also attended the event, added: “More than 230 schools around North Yorkshire have service children on roll. The schools work throughout the year to support our young people’s needs with pastoral care, working alongside our service children’s champion, Angela Campbell.
“This special event offers a space for reflection and pride, recognising not only the sacrifices of military families but also the strength and contributions of service children themselves.”
Highlights during the service included musicians of Richmond School and Sixth-Form College orchestra accompanying all hymns, while young members of our Service Children Choir performed a choral rendition of “Seeds of Sunshine” - a song they recorded earlier this year and was released as a single on Spotify and Amazon after working with songwriter Kelly Fort.
The Dean of Ripon, the Very Rev John Dobson, said: "Once again we are very much honoured to host a regional service for the children of military families at Ripon Cathedral at Remembrance time.
“Eighty years on from the end of the Second World War, these young people help us to reflect on the cost of warfare and conflict and the resulting human suffering, which has been seen over the last century and even today.
“These are young people who themselves pay a price when a parent is deployed. In this service then, we celebrate the contribution that they themselves are making in the cause of our nation’s defence, global stability and peace. Our hope is that they feel affirmed and encouraged by participating in this act of worship.”
Armed Forces champion, Cllr Kevin Foster, served as a reservist in the military for 30 years.
He said: “This annual service offers a space for reflection and pride, recognising not only the sacrifices of military families but also the strength and contributions of service children themselves.”
For the third year, the event was livestreamed on the internet to enable as many as possible of the county’s 3,560 service children to view it.
Young People’s champion, Cllr Alyson Baker, said: “It was heartwarming to watch and listen to hundreds of school pupils from our county who came under one roof to take part in the poignant remembrance service.
“The poignant service marks a key highlight in the annual calendar and I would like to say thank you to everyone involved.”