Woodstock Remembers WWI

Stephen Barker, Centenary Projects Manager SOFO: Photograph copyright Nicola Onions

A Commemorative poppy planting ceremony took place on Friday June 28th 2019

As part of The Marlborough C of E School Woodstock Remembers WW1 Then and Now project, the school’s art department had been working on an idea which tied in with the centenary of the Treaty of Versailles, in remembrance of the soldiers that fell in the Great War. Liaising with Ursula Corcoran, Museum Director, Soldiers of Oxfordshire, the Oxfordshire County Museum, St Mary Magdalene’s Church, British Legion, Councillors, musicians, caterers, and identified family members was quite a feat. However, it was a great way of bringing together a community united in the belief that this would be a fitting remembrance for the fallen.

A group of students, assisted by Head of Art, Anna Marshall, Art Technician, Melanie Greenwood, and Library Volunteer Angela Prior, made 45, ceramic poppies, one for each Soldier, one for the unknown Soldier, which were ‘planted’ in the grounds of Oxfordshire County Museum, as part of a formal ceremony in conjunction with the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum. The poppies remained on display to the public at the site until 24th July 2019.

Invited guests included Alice Hipkiss and Isabel Wheeler, the Marlborough students behind the project, Woodstock Town Major Cllr Ann Grant, former Mayor Cllr Peter Jay and individuals with family connections to the town’s fallen soldiers. The event was introduced by Brigadier David Innes OBE Trustee Director SOFO, the speakers were Alice, Isabel and Stephen Barker, Centenary Projects Manager SOFO, prayers were read by Brigadier David Innes & Colonel Christopher Laurence MBE Trustee Director SOFO & Curate of St Mary Magdalene’s Church Woodstock, Alice Venning. Representing the British Legion Melanie Watson, who read the names of the 44 WWI Soldiers as the students paraded around the planted poppies.

Music was provided by Oxfordshire Schools Brass Ensemble under Conductor – Mark Probert

5 Marlborough students & 4 from Oxfordshire Schools, they sounded wonderful.

The Last Post was excellently played by Ben Davies in Year 11.

Following the formal proceedings, Marlborough students facilitated an art installation, based on paper poppies, which reflected visitor’s thoughts on remembrance, as part of the national Kids in Museums Takeover Day event, at SOFO Museum. They also guided visitors around the county’s military history museum, which featured exhibits such as Oxford: The War and the World 1914-1919, offering an insight into Oxford’s international connections during WW1, and offered refreshments to guests, with a poppy cake made by Eloise Parsons.

This event provided a valuable exercise for students, SOFO staff, guests and the community coming together to share knowledge and experiences.

This activity was stimulating for all involved, and not only a great way of learning for students, but also a way to build a closer relationship between the different generations. The families have since been presented with their relative’s ceramic poppy.

Gillian was presented with her grandfather’s poppy. She wrote “My husband is going to place the poppy in our front garden today, where it will stay until after 11 November. I hope it will remind passers-by of the great sacrifices our servicemen made during both World Wars, and still continue to make to keep us safe”