School pupils and veterans unite for Remembrance service at Barnsley care home

The moving event was held at Deangate Care Home, on Towngate, Mapplewell, and saw veterans from the local community join those living at the home to remember the fallen.

They were also joined by family members, representatives from the Royal British Legion (RBL), Royal British Veterans Enterprise (RBVE), and pupils from Mapplewell Primary School in an act of remembrance.

The schoolchildren played a key role in the service after creating poppy artwork and writing poems about what remembrance means to them.

They shared their work before joining residents and veterans to learn more about the sacrifices made by previous generations.

Alongside the children’s poetry recitals, the service included a prayer for peace, a reading about the symbolism of the poppy, the Ode of Remembrance and a bugle performance of the Last Post by John Hopkinson.

For those living and working at Deangate Care Home, the morning carried particular significance, as it came just days before the first anniversary of the death of Maurice Churchouse, one of Deangate Care Home's first Veteran Champions, who passed away on 11th November last year.

His daughter Anne attended the service alongside relatives of other former Veteran Champions who have since passed away, including Sheila Johnson, Bill Dyson, Bill Curtis, Ian Dickinson and Steve Atkinson.

Resident Martin Bradley, 67, said: “It was such an emotional but important ceremony. It was great to see youngsters coming along to understand the importance of why we should remember.”

The husband of resident Norma Heaversedge, 98, served under General Montgomery.

She said: "I have his medals here with me today and I have loved showing all the children them. I want to keep telling his story where possible as they should never be forgotten.

"Those brave ladies and gentlemen gave up so much for us so that we can live our lives now. They deserve all our thanks.”

The care home’s activities coordinator Rachael Addy organised the event.

She said: “It was an honour to host all the veterans from the local community and from our home, along with pupils from Mapplewell Primary School.

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“I was astounded by how many people came together to remember those that had fallen.

"The pupils really engaged with all our residents and veterans. Some of the children chatted with veterans, thanking them for their service.

“One young man was speaking with local veteran Dave Melling and told him that when he grows up, he wants to serve in the RAF as a mechanic. Dave was thrilled as he too was a mechanic during his service.

“I just want to express a heartfelt thanks to everyone who gave up their free time to come along and remember.

"We need to keep those memories alive and never forget what those brave men and women gave up for us. We will remember them.”

The service was held ahead of Armistice Day today.

Also known as Remembrance Day, Armistice Day on 11 November is a day for remembering the millions upon millions of soldiers and civilians killed during the First World War.

The Armistice is an agreement to end the fighting of the First World War as a prelude to peace negotiations, began at 11am on 11 November 1918.

To this day we mark Armistice Day around the United Kingdom with a Two Minute Silence at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month.

Today, the National Remembrance Gardens will host their annual service on top of the Armed Forces Memorial. Visitors are welcome to view and participate in the service from Heroes' Square, where the service will be shown on a large screen.

The service commemorates the signing of the Armistice which brought an end to the First World War and remembers all those who gave their lives in service to their country since 1914.

In run-up to Armistice Day, GB News has been running a series of special reports to highlight the stories of veterans from all corners of the UK.

In the specially commissioned series, armed forces veterans tell GB News viewers and listeners about their service, with each piece focusing on a different side of military life, from combat and injury, to leaving family behind to do their duty.

Britain's News Channel has spoken to veterans of conflicts from the Second World War to Afghanistan, and each report ends with an emotional message about why we must remember those who fought and died for our freedom.

The series was made with the support of the Royal British Legion, which supports many of the veterans featured.