Lancashire law firm pledges support for local schools
Vincents sponsors Armistice commemoration event
Longridge lawyers have given a boost to an ambitious Armistice Day commemoration event by local school children. Vincents Solicitors has donated £500 and armfuls of black and red wool to the support a huge 100th anniversary event being staged by the Longridge Cluster in 2018.
Children from the 15 primary and high schools within the cluster are set to perform at the Guild Hall in Preston in an extravaganza of music, performance and dance on November 11 2018. The epic event, which will feature more than 500 pupils and teachers with all profits from ticket and DVD sales donated to the Royal British Legion.
Written and organised by Barnacre Road School headteacher Simon Wallis, the event will be similar to a Second World War commemoration staged in 2013 called Forget Me Not. That show raised more than £13,500 for the RBL and was hailed a triumph by many.
Mr Wallis said: “The response to the last event was phenomenal, the children and audience had an amazing time, and we raised many, many thousands of pounds for charity. The centenary of the end of the First World War is arguably an even bigger milestone, and we wanted to mark it in a way that would stay in the children’s minds for a very long time. I think we’re going to see fewer First World War events after 2018, so we’re pulling out all the stops for it.
“Staging an event like this is very costly, which is why we are so incredibly grateful for the businesses and individuals who have provided sponsorship. But every penny is worth it, not only in terms of the final performance, but also in the fact that we can tie everything into different parts of the curriculum over the year.
“The children will not only learn the history of this important period, and have fun enjoying the songs, performance and artworks, but they’ll gain a deeper understanding of just what people went through in the Great War, and why Armistice Day was greeted with a mixture of joy and sorrow 100 years ago.”
Vincents has not only provided financial support but has donated several bags of red and black wool to the school’s special poppy project. Mr Wallis hopes keen knitters from across the town – and beyond – can help to make 20,000 poppies over the next year which will feature in the Top Secret grand finale of the show.
Mark Mosley, director at Vincents, saw the previous show and was keen to get involved this time. He said: “This is going to be an incredible event, anyone who saw the last show will tell you that. The Guild Hall was packed and there was hardly a dry eye in the house, people were moved by the children’s performances and by the significance of stories that were being told. The 100th anniversary of Armistice Day will perhaps be the last major commemoration of the First World War in our lifetime and this event will allow the children to be part of something really special.”
Any businesses able to help with sponsorship, or knitting groups willing to contribute to the poppy appeal, should contact the school for the pattern 01772 783 555.
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Pictured: Vincents Solicitors Nazreen Ali, and Megan Barker with Barnacre Road headteacher Simon Wallis, and Year 6 pupils Finlay Clash, Sophie Barber, Lola Devlin- Leech, Oliver Fry.