Children visit cemeteries to salute our war dead

Poignant tributes to Erewash’s war dead in the run-up to Remembrance Sunday are seeing junior school pupils visit local cemeteries – to take part in solemn salutes to the heroes they owe their freedom to.

Ceremonies involving the youngsters are being held this week ahead of the borough traditionally turning out in force on the Sabbath to pay its respects to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The first of the salutes was at Ilkeston’s Park Cemetery, where children from the town’s Chaucer and Granby junior schools sported poppies on Tuesday 4th November. 

Erewash Borough Council’s ex-Mayor Cllr Frank Phillips and his wife Cllr Pam Phillips were there – and later attended a morning service at All Saints Church in Kirk Hallam. It was attended by pupils from nearby Ladywood and Dallimore primary schools.

On Wednesday 5th November, Frank joined a similar morning service at Ilkeston’s Stanton Road cemetery, where youngsters from Kensington junior and from St Thomas school gathered with three and four-year-olds from a nearby nursery – The Pines. The councillor had earlier attended a remembrance service at the Stanton Ironworks Memorial.

On Thursday 6th November, another event involving children will be held at the World War II memorial next to Ilkeston’s St Mary’s Church. Erewash Borough Council Leader, Councillor James Dawson will be joined there by youngsters from the Cantelupe Centre, which is just yards away.

Friday 7th was set to see a Remembrance Service held in Risley. Councillors Frank and Pam were set to be joined there by pupils from Risley Primary.

Pictured above:: 

• Top left: Children from The Pines at Stanton Road Cementery
• Top right: More children at Stanton Road Cemeter with a recently produced commemorative wreath
• Bottom left: Junior School pupils at a Remembrance Ceremony
• Bottom right: Chaucer School pupils at Park Cemetery, Ilkeston