The Combined Service of Remembrance for the School and the OBA was held on Armistice Day, Friday 11th November 2022 at 10:45, with representatives from each of the School’s year-groups and the Old Bordenians Association.
The Headmaster reminded us how war takes its toll not only on combatants but on civilians and families – men, women and children – in their millions all across the world.
He spoke of Ypres, in Belgium – twinned with Sittingbourne – which was devastated in World War One, and the daily service of remembrance at the Menin Gate there - and the peoples’ determination to commemorate the fallen every single evening at 8pm – "at the going down of the sun" – come what may.
The School Captain read ‘In Flanders Fields’.
The Exhortation was read by OB Neil Hancock from the fourth stanza of ‘For the Fallen’.
A wreath was laid on the steps of the School by two Borden students, together.
Two bugles were presented to the School on behalf of the OBA: ‘Alpha’, from 1914, emblazoned in School colours, and ‘Omega’, from 1918, in Old Bordenian colours.
Borden student, Ben, chose Alpha to sound the Last Post before the Two Minutes Silence, followed by the Reveille.
The service then moved to Sittingbourne Cenotaph in Central Avenue, where the wreath was re-laid in the Town’s Armistice ceremony.