Monday 1st July – This date in 1916 should be forever etched on the memories of the people of Hyndburn – the Battle of the Somme, in which most of the Accrington Pals were killed. Young men from the factories, shops and mines had responded to General Kitchener’s call – “Your country needs you!” He thought that if men from the same town joined up together it would foster a spirit of comradeship – hence the “Pals’ Battalions”. In Accrington the recruitment was promoted by the Mayor, John Harwood. Men throughout the country must have thought that they were going on some sort of adventure – a break from their humdrum lives or from unemployment! They thought they’d be home by Christmas and couldn’t wait to sign up! It was the 97th Anniversary of the Battle of the Somme that we were commemorating this morning at the Queen’s Lancashire Regiment memorial in Church Street, Accrington. The centenary is approaching in three years and the Council has been planning events for quite some time. I walked in full ceremonial robes from the Town Hall to Church Street, accompanied by the Mayoress. Other Councillors were present, also of course members of the British Legion. We greeted Father Lawrence and his new colleague Father Terry who has come to join the ministry team in Accrington and is living in St. Peter’s Vicarage. I read a Bible reading which I’d chosen – we have it in our Remembrance Sunday service at our Church – “The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them. In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, and their departure was thought to be a disaster, and their going from us to be their destruction; but they are at peace. ....Those who trust in him will understand truth, and the faithful will abide with him in love, because grace and mercy are upon his holy ones, and he watches over his elect.” In an age when church-going was commonplace, I’m sure many of those young men carried a Bible, prayed regularly and were remembered in prayer by their loved ones at home, particularly mothers, wives and sweethearts. Don’t ask me to make sense of war and why so many have had to die through the ages! Sadly war still goes on although most people want nothing more than to live in peace! But let us never forget the sacrifice the Accrington Pals made in the interests of our national freedom – “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13) – engraved on many of our cenotaphs. Let’s all say in our hearts, “We will remember them”. A very different event followed in the evening when the Mayoress and I were invited to the Prize-Giving Ceremony for Heathland Private School at the Dunkenhalgh. I imagine many parents and grandparents would love to send their children to this school if they had the money – I didn’t enquire what the fees were! Children can start as babies at 6 months old in the Nursery and Kindergarten, moving up through the Juniors to Seniors and leaving at age 16. The average class size in Juniors and Seniors is 16! The motto of the school is “Labor omnia vincit” – “work conquers all” (a quotation from Virgil). We were welcomed to the event by the Principal, Mrs. Janet Harrison and the Vice-Principal, Mrs. Jackie Baldwin. Both are Rotarians. Mrs. Baldwin is a member of Accrington Rotary Club and is to be installed as President this Thursday – the Mayoress and I are invited. Mrs. Harrison is a member of Pendle View Rotary Club and so their President, Mr. Stephen Parr, had been invited to present the prizes. First of all Certificates of Merit were given out, then Lower School Prizes for Effort, Lower School Prizes for Achievement, Senior School Prizes for Attainment and finally General Prizes. Three Senior School members sang solos, accompanied very ably by the Musical Director, Mr. Chris Cookson. The Head Boy, Mohammed Patel, and the Head Girl, Emily Pickles – both about to leave at age 16 – shared some memories of their time at school. Mohammed had joined the Senior School at age 11 but Emily had been at Heathland since she was a small child. She won several prizes and is now going on to Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School for 6th form studies. There then followed a performance of “Jungle Book”, involving youngsters of all ages. My attention was constantly diverted to two little boys at the front of the audience – members of the Nursery School – who danced along with such enthusiasm! Emily Pickles has a lovely voice and so rounded off the evening with some solos. We then all stood for the National Anthem. The Mayoress and I asked Mrs. Harrison whether we could go on a visit to the school sometime – she is going to try and arrange this. The school is at Broad Oak, Sandy Lane, Accrington, BB5 2AN, telephone 01254 234284, website heathlandschool.co.uk I’m sure the school would be only too glad to answer any enquiries, should you be interested in sending your child or grandchild there.
Posted on: Tue, 02 Jul 2013 07:41:57 +0000