WW1 Memorial

A PLAQUE honouring former students of a Ramsgate school who died during the First World War was refurbished and rededicated at a church service on Monday.

The names of 51 former Chatham and Clarendon Grammar School students that are inscribed on the plaque in St George's Church in Ramsgate had been unreadable.

School admin manager Debra Canham said: "The plaque was pointed out to me last year. It was at the back of St George's, dedicated to pupils who fell during the Great War, but I didn't even know it was there.

"You could not read the names so we contacted Roberts stonemasons and got it refurbished."

The decision to rededicate the plaque was made due to this year being the centenary of the start of the First World War, in which more than nine million people lost their lives.

The rededication at St George's Church, carried out by the Bishop of Dover, Right Reverend Trevor Willmott, was attended by guests including about 45 current pupils from Years 7, 8 and 9, school staff and members of the Ruymian Association of past pupils.

The service included an address by the Reverend Stefan Thomas, the school chaplain, a reading of names by assistant head of sixth form Craig Lowis, an address by Bishop Trevor and a reading by Father Peter Adams, of St George's Church. The order of service can be downloaded here.

Head boy Theo Cox recited The Exhortation and head girl Gabriella Panteli laid a wreath at the foot of the memorial.

Pupils also read from works by war poets including Wilfred Owen. These can be viewed here.

Mrs Canham said: "The service went very well. It was pulled together by our head of history David Potter, history teacher Katherine Greig and the Reverend Thomas.

"Children are now doing project work on it, looking into the history of those people on the plaque."

9th June 2014