Stories

St Dunstan’s College annual Service of Remembrance took place on Monday 11 November 2024.

The service was opened in the Great Hall with an opening prayer by Reverend Colin Boswell, which was followed by a reading of Anthem for Doomed Youth by Simon Stanford-Tuck, son of Dunstonian and World War II hero Robert Stanford-Tuck ('33) who was imprisoned in POW Stalaag III, immortalised in  the film The Great Escape with Steve McQueen.

Head of School, Yasmin and Junior School Head Pupil, Toby, then delivered a powerful reading of MCMXIV by Philip Larkin. Following the Chapel Choir’s performance of Nunc Dimittis in A, Group Head, Nick Hewlett, read For the Fallen by Laurence Binyon.

This year, the Last Post was delivered by Jasmine, before the wreaths were laid by representatives for the College community. This included Coxswain Oscar (CCF), RSM Eva (CCF), Asha and Bertie (Pre-Prep pupils), Alexa (Junior School Head Pupil), Simon Stanford[1]Tuck (Dunstonian), Michael Stanford-Tuck (Dunstonian), Nick Hewlett (Group Head), Jade McLellan (Head of Senior School) and Laura Whitwood (Head of Junior School).

During the First World War, more than 877 Dunstonians served in the forces, and St Dunstan’s suffered one of the highest percentage losses of any school in the country. Tragically 277 students and teachers lost their lives during the war.

St Dunstan’s Rivers of Poppies display was once again installed at the front of the College featuring more than 750 poppies. The display is made up of two rivers of poppies hanging down the side of the front building.

Watch the full service below