Silence at Shena Simon for Armistice Day

Students, tutors and colleagues at Shena Simon campus fell silent during a special Armistice Day performance.

On Friday 9 November, Level 3 Musical Theatre and Acting students donned historical costumes, read poems and real life letters from soldiers, and sang traditional songs during the poignant ceremony which began with a two minute silence to remember the soldiers, civilians and animals who lost their lives in the two World Wars and more recent conflicts.

After the ceremony, a poppy wreath was laid at the First World War memorial by students including Robert Hart, whose great grandfather Samuel E Hart is named on the plaque.  

The ceremony was organised by library coordinator Phillip Rigby, a former colour sergeant in the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers who served in the Iraq war and conflicts in Bosnia and Northern Ireland.

Phillip said:

Organising this event is important to me because we have to remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. Every person in this college should know their history. We’ve got a fantastic Performing Arts department at Shena Simon and the students did a great job.

Students and colleagues across College campuses took part in their own tributes to the fallen, which included observing a two minute silence this year to commemorate 100 years since the end of the First World War.

Picture: (Back L-R) Robert Hart, Dylan Hemlin and Jake Shepherd. (Front L-R) Phillip Rigby, Jarrad Walsh, Tanisha Gorey, Joel Austin and Freia Reidel-Fisher.