02 November 2020

Dear Parents/Carers

Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal & Remembrance Day

Remembrance Sunday provides an opportunity for all of us to reflect on the sacrifices made by so many people in the service of their country.  As Headteacher, I regard it as a privilege to be able to represent our school community at the annual parade in Aldridge.   I believe that it is important that we take time to remember, with thanks, the service and sacrifice of those who have suffered in conflicts around the globe.

Within school we usually sell poppies with the proceeds going to the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal which provide care and support for service personnel, veterans and their families.   In conjunction with many others, we observe a two minute silence, which in recent years has seen us gathering together as a whole school community with students reflecting whilst the Last Post, the silence and Reveille are observed.

I am sure you will understand that our traditional forms of remembrance are not possible in light of the current Covid-19 situation, but our acts of remembrance are no less important.

Aldridge Remembrance parade will not be taking place but wreaths have been laid and a Remembrance Sunday Virtual Service put together which can be viewed online at

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AldridgeRemembrance/       and/or 

You Tube – https://youtube.com/channel/UCcdhCi3L5_SirmI7eU6QF7g

Please ask people to share this and to log on and SUBCRIBE to the YouTube channel before the 8th, so that the organisers  can ensure that the link will allocated priority viewing, on what will be a busy day.   Please see the accompanying flyer for further information.

We will not be selling poppies in school this year, but would like to encourage all members of the school community and their families to donate to the Poppy Appeal and the wearing of a poppy is encouraged as a show of support to the Armed Forces community.   A Just Giving page has been set up specifically for this purpose which allows Gift Aid to increase gifts further where possible.   We would normally raise £600 – £700 selling poppies and I hope that we can raise more than this in 2020.   Please use this link https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/aldridgepoppyappeal to access the Giving link which will remain open until Saturday 15^th November.

Finally, on 11^th November itself, we will be unable to gather as a whole school body.   However, we are aiming to stream a short video exploring the Act of Remembrance, the history behind it and its continuing significance before observing the silence communally in our classrooms across the school as our act of collective reflection.

Yours sincerely

Ian Bryant

Headteacher