The Memorial Plaque and Book of Remembrance are on view at the Gowerton Comprehensive School

Date: 8th November 2024

Annual Remembrance Service 2024

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Ms. Kathleen Lawlor with G.S Committee members Mrs M. Stubbings, Mrs Catherine Thomas Mrs Val Richards, Mrs Lynne Guy	The Lord Mayor & Lady Mayoress of Swansea, Local Dignitaries, Members of the Armed Forces Members of the G.S Committee

70th Anniversary Commemoration in Belgium 2014

Date: 11th November 2023

Annual Remembrance Service 2023

Sanjay Pradeepan and Nia Owen with Lucy Harris, Holly Parker, Lewis Holloway Fraser, Tristan John	Ms Kath Lawlor and Senior Prefects with Members of the Gowertonian Society Committee

Date: 11th November 2022

Annual Remembrance Service 2022

	Ms K Lawlor, Marley Bushell & Olivia Short with members of the Gowertonian Society committee		Ms K Lawlor with guests from the community

Major Dean Owen & Head Prefects		Millie, Marley & Olivia		Cadet representatives

		Dunvant Male Voice Choir members

Date: 8th November 2019

Annual Remembrance Service 2019

Robert Frew & Megan Nicholson Head Boy and Head Girl	Penry Guy Memorial Plaque on display at Gowerton School	Army Cadets Yr 10 & 11 pupils
Members of the Gowertonion Society Committee	H.M.Lord Lieutenant of West Glamorgan D. Byron Lewis and his wife, Hilary	Ms Lawlor, Head Prefects and Guests including Estelle Hart and Ken Thomas

Date: 9th November 2018

Annual Remembrance Service 2018

Headteacher, Mr N Jones, Head Prefects, Heather Wheel & Aidan Stannard	Gowertonian Society Committee Members	Gowerton Comprehensive School Yr 7 Pupils

	Guests included Lord Lieutenant of West Glamorgan D Byron Lewis and his wife, Hilary High Sheriff of West Glamorgan Henry Michael Gilbert The Lord Mayor of Swansea Councillor David Phillips Representatives of the Army, Police Force and Local Associations

Date: 10th November 2017

Annual Remembrance Service 2017

Head Boy, Ehsan Yadollahi and Head Girl, Lucy Jones with members of Gowertonian Society
Mrs Edwina Hart, Mrs Catherine Thomas, Mr Tony Small, Dr Chloe Guy
Mrs Marjorie Stubbings, Ms Elaine Howell, Mrs Val Richards, Mrs Lynne Guy, Dr Alun Jones
(photograph taken by Miriam Higgs, Year 13)

Gowertonian Society committee members and representatives of local organisations were guests at Gowerton Comprehensive School for the Annual Remembrance Service, marking the centenary of the Battle of Passchendaele in World War 1

Order of Service
Welcome:
Ms K Lawlor, Deputy Headteacher
'The Battle of Passchendaele':
Mr N Jones, Headteacher
'Long Time Traveller'
Musical Trio: Miriam Higgs, Emily Tucker, Tegan Winrow
'Hedd Wyn' - The Shepherd Poet:
Mrs V Richards, Gowertonian Society President
Readings from the Book of Remembrance:
Mr N Jones & Ms K Lawlor
	Mr Bryan Bevan, Dunvant Male choir
	Exhortation:
	Lucy Jones, Head Girl
	Laying of the Poppy Wreaths:
	Lucy Jones and Dr A Jones, Gowertonian Society
	Ehsan Yadollahi and Mrs M Stubbings, Gowertonian Society
	The Last Post:
	Eloise Denny, Year 11
	The Kohima Epitaph:
	Ehsan Yadollahi, Head Boy
	Poem - 'The Man We Never Knew':
	Mr Bryan Bevan, Dunvant Male Choir
Mrs Val Richards Ehsan Yadollahi & Lucy Jones	Hymn - Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer

World War 1 Commemorations in Ypres

		In October 2017 the Senior Prefect team, 2 teachers and our Vice Chair of Governors attended two World War 1 commemorations in Ypres.
Rebecca Pye & Shaun Swain, deputy head prefects with Ehsan Yadollahi, head boy and Lucy Jones, head girl

On the second day we visited the Flanders Field Museum and pupils were fascinated by the wealth of information and the moving imagery at the exhibition.   On the first evening our Head Boy, Head Girl and Vice Chair of Governors took part in the 8pm Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate and laid a wreath for the fallen of Gowerton School.
		Gowerton School Wreath, at the Menin Gate

		In the afternoon the group laid a wreath at the beautiful Welsh Memorial on Pilkem Ridge then visited trenches and were given detailed information on some of the earliest conflict .   That evening we attended a unique event called ‘Silent City Meets Living City’. This was the main purpose of our visit. This event was attended by 7,000 people from all over the world to remember the Battle of Passchendale. It was a moving, poignant 'sound and light' event. Every one of us involved has been changed by the amazing experience.
Ms K Lawlor, Senior Prefects and Mr Ryan Richards with Mrs Lynne Guy and Mrs Kathleen De Cleene

The pupils have presented an assembly based on the Battle of Passchendaele to each year group in school, therefore over 1000 pupils have gained knowledge from the visit. The senior prefect team are also planning to do a presentation for our 5 partner primary schools.

We have enlisted the help of a researcher to do further detailed research into the World War 1 fallen with the goal of producing a Book of Remembrance and a permanent display for the school so that all future pupils will have an understanding of the sacrifice made by the pupils listed on the school’s memorial plaque.

Ms K Lawlor, Deputy Headteacher

Date: 11th November 2016

Annual Remembrance Service 2016

Mr Stuart Davies, Dr Alun Jones, Mrs Val Richards, Mrs Catherine Thomas, Mr Tony Small,
Mrs Kathleen De Cleene,Ms Elaine Howell, Ms Kath Lawlor, Mrs Lynne Guy

Order of Service
Welcome and Introduction: Mr N Jones
Reading: Mrs Catherine Thomas, Gowertonian Society
Hymn: Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer
Reading from the Book of Remembrance
and 1st World War Memorial: Mr N Jones
Exhortation: Matthew Pitson, Head Boy
Laying of Poppy Wreaths:
Ms Elaine Howell, Gowertonian Society and Holly Breeze Jones, Head Girl
Mr Tony Small, Gowertonian Society and Matthew Pitson, Head Boy
The Last Post:
Daniel Lewis Yr 13, Josh Smith Yr 13 and Tim Perkins Year 10
The Kohima Epitaph: Holly Breeze-Jones, Head Girl
Musical Item: Abide With Me - Brass Band
Prayers: Ms K Lawlor	Holly Breeze-Jones & Matthew Pitson

	Later, our Belgian guests joined an assembly of Year 7 pupils. Ms Kath Lawlor and Mrs Kathleen De Cleene told the story of heroic Gowertonian, Pilot Officer Penry Guy from Penclawdd, who lost his life in World War 2. Penry Guy saved the 6 members of his crew before crashing his Lancaster Bomber near Asch, Belgium. After a ceremony at his graveside at the cemetery in Asch in 2014, cultural links have been established between the Community of Asch and Gowerton School.
	The visit by students from the Municipal Academy of Asch (Dilsen-Stokkem, Belgium) with their teacher Chris Opsteyn and the members of the Keereweerom Choir included a concert at the Primary School in Penclawdd on Saturday, 12th November. Concert
Gift for Gowerton School, presented to Mr Nigel Jones by Deputy Mayor of Asch, Mrs Kathleen De Cleene

Date: 6th November 2015

Annual Remembrance Service 2015

Head Boy, Peter Swain and Head Girl, Annabel Lyle
with members of the Gowertonian Society Committee,

Guests at the Remembrance Service included: Mrs Edwina Hart MBE - Welsh Assembly Minister, Lord Mayor of the City and County of Swansea, Councillor John Newbury and Mrs Berardine Jennings, Mr Brian Davies and Mr David Jenkins - RAF, Tim Clarke - MOD, members of the Dunvant Male Voice Choir, Mr Wayne Pedrick - Music Service, School Governors, members of the Gowertonianian Society, members of the Gowerton Community Council, Primary School Representatives, Elaine Clark - HSA Home School Association, Ian Davies - Waunarlwydd St Barnabas Church, Paul Davies and Nicola Henson - Police Force and Mr Ken Thomas and Mrs Pam Evans - former teachers at Gowerton School.

Date: 7th November 2014

Annual Remembrance Service 2014

		Headteacher, Mr Peter Harrison, and the staff of Gowerton Comprehensive School welcomed visitors from Belgium, members of the community and the Gowertonian Society to the Annual Remembrance Service
Owain Brooks, Year 13				Remembrance Day Service at Gowerton Comprehensive School

Following the Annual Remembrance Service. a special service was held in honour of Pilot Officer Penry Guy, Gowertonian from Penclawdd

Penry Guy Commemoration Service

	Guests Lord Mayor of Swansea, Councillor Ceinwen Evans Edwina Hart AM Representatives of the RAF Members of Penry Guy's Family Chair of School Governors, Mrs Debbie Lloyd Representatives of the Local Community Councils Representatives of Local Organisations and the Gowertonian Society Kathleen De Cleene, Deputy Mayor of the Community of As, Belgium Jean-Pierre Wuyts, Belgium

Year 8 Pupils, singing the hymn Calon Lan	Ms Kath Lawlor with guests and Year 8 Pupils	Why are we here? : Ms Kath Lawlor
Asch Perspective: Kathleen De Kleene	Unveiling the plaque: J-P Wuyts and Mrs Debbie Lloyd	Memorial Plaque, made by Mr Trevor Cheeseman
Josh Smith and Daniel Lewis	Laying of the R.A.F Wreath	Ryan Colebrook
J-P Wuyts, Mrs Debbie Lloyd with representatives of the R.A.F Association.	J-P Wuyts with Mrs Kathleen De Cleene and Mrs Edwina Hart	Mrs Edwina Hart, J-P and Kathleen De Cleene with members of the Gowertonian Society
	The plaque unveiled at the ceremony was designed and made by Mr Trevor Cheeseman, a former teacher at Gowerton Comprehensive School. After the ceremony, Jean-Pierre Wuyts presented the school with a plaque, also made from parts of Penry Guy's Lancaster Bomber
Memorial Plaque, by Mr Trevor Cheeseman		Plaque presented by Mr J-P Wuyts

	Thanks to Mrs Kathleen De Cleene, Deputy Mayor and Minister of Culture of the Community of As, Belgium for attending the Gowerton School Services. Also, to Mr Jean-Pierre Wuyts, who found parts of Gowertonian Penry Guy's aircraft at Asch, Belgium. In June 2014, members of Penry Guy's family and representatives of the Gowertonian Society attended ceremonies at Asch.
Pilot Officer Penry Guy and his grave at the Cemetery, Asch, Belgium		Gill Small, Janine and Wendy Guy, members of Penry Guy's family
	Click on this image to see photographs taken at the ceremonies in Asch in June 2014

Date: 8th November 2013

	Annual Remembrance Service 2013
	Head Prefects Andrew Jones and Katie Baran with committee members Val Richards, Gordon Dennis, Catherine Thomas and Elaine Howell
	A warm welcome to the service was extended to Gowertonian World War 2 veterans and representatives of local organisations by the headteacher, Mr Peter Harrison, and the staff of Gowerton Comprehensive School	The Arctic Star worn by Mr Bryan Bevan
	Order of Service

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Date: 9th November 2012

Annual Remembrance Service 2012

The Gowertonian Society was represented at the Gowerton School Remembrance Service 2012 by committee members Mrs Julie Thomas, Mrs Elizabeth Tucker, Mrs Marjorie Stubbings, Miss Elaine Howell, Mrs Val Richards and Dr Alun Jones.

Welome and Introduction: Mr Peter Harrison, Headteacher

Reading: Dr Alun Jones, Chairman of the Gowertonian society

Exhortation: Kim Pullinger, Head Boy

Laying of the wreaths: Miss Elaine Howell and Mrs Marjorie Stubbing accompanied by the Head Boy and Head Girl

The Last Post: Daniel Lewis, Year 9

The Kohima Epitaph: Laura Baker, Head Girl

Musical Item: by pupils Rachel Higgs, Bethan Tucker, Gemma Evans, Hannah Thomas , Jade Meredith

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Date: 11th November 2011

Annual Remembrance Service 2011

A warm welcome was extended by headteacher Mr Peter Harrison to guests, including representatives of the Gowertonian Society, the Gowerton Primary School, the local constabulary and the Community Council at the school's Annual Remembrance Service.

On behalf of the Gowertonian Society, committee member Mrs Marjorie Stubbings read a poem.

The poppy wreaths, laid by head prefects Rhys Jackson and Rachel Tucker, were presented by Mrs Julie Thomas and Mrs Elizabeth Tucker.

The Exhortation was read by deputy head boy, Liam Francis.

The Kohima Epitaph was read by deputy head girl, Bethan Clark

The Last Post was played by Jessica Ronan, Year 13

The Senior String Ensemble played 'Ave Verum Corpus' Mozart

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Date: 12th November 2010

Annual Remembrance Service 2010

Guests at this year's Remembrance Service included The Lord Mayor of Swansea Richard Lewis and his wife the Lady Mayoress, Gowertonian and Welsh Assembly Health Minister Edwina Hart MBE, local councillors, governors of Gowerton School and representatives of the Gowertonian Society.

The memorial wreaths, presented by Elaine Howell and David Borthwick, were laid by Head Boy, Rhys Hughes, and Head Girl, Bethan Owen. On behalf of the Gowertonian Society there was a reading by the president, Valmai Richards.

From the book of Remembrance Mr Peter Harrison, the headteacher, read names of Gowertonians who had lost their lives in both World Wars. The Last Post was played by Jessica Ronan, Year 12, followed by 'The Kohima Epitaph' read by Bethan Owen, 'Exhortation' by Rhys Hughes and a musical item, 'Gabriel's Oboe' from the film "The Mission" Ennio Higgs - Oboist, Rachel Higgs and Leader, Eloise Ryde.

The Remembrance Service was followed by a service in honour of Gowertonian, Frederick William Higginson.

Unveiling of Memorial to Wing Commander F. W. Higginson

Headteacher, Mr Peter Harrison, staff and pupils were proud to welcome members of Frederick Higginson's family and representatives of their wider school community to the uneiling ceremony at Gowerton School on Friday, 12th November 2010.

Wing Commander Higginson's son, Philip, spoke about his father as a 'kind and loving Dad' and related some amusing stories about his father's wartime experiences to an audience of Year 7 pupils.

Former head boy, Rhys Morris sang "My Little Welsh Home".

Deputy headteacher, Tom MacCarthy spoke about the Battle of Britain and showed a film, followed by readings by the head prefects - Why are we here today" by Bethan Owen and "Extracts from Churchill's speeches" by Rhys Hughes.

The plaque was unveiled by Mrs Debbie Lloyd, Chair of Governors.

The Brass Ensemble performed "Band of Brothers" arranged by Mr P Bewen-Chappell.

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Date: 6th November 2009

Annual Remembrance Service 2009

Her Majesty's Lord Lieutenant of West Glamorgan, D. Byron Lewis,
his wife, Hilary, Dr Alun Jones (GS Chairman, right)
and representatives of the Gowertonian Society Committee.

Chairman, Dr Alun Jones and representatives of the committee of the Gowertonian Society were guests at the Remembrance Service at Gowerton Comprehensive School on Friday, 6th November 2009.

The memorial wreaths were laid by Her Majesty's Lord Lieutenant of West Glamorgan, D. Byron Lewis, who was accompanied by his wife Hilary (née Morgan), also a Gowertonian.

Tributes were paid to fallen Gowertonians by headteacher Mr Peter Harrison, assisted by deputy headteacher, Mr Tom McCarthy. Names of some of the former pupils who lost their lives in the World Wars 1914-1918 and 1939-1945 were read from the school's Book of Remembrance. On behalf of the Gowertonian Society there was a reading by Dr Alun Jones, followed by 'Exhortation' by head boy, Matthew Jones and 'The Kohima Epitaph' by head girl, Adele Davies.

The Last Post was played by Jessica Ronan, Year 11.

The Senior String Ensemble, lead by Lucy Meredith, played "We Stand Alone Together" (Michael Kayman) from Band of Brothers.

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Date: 7th November 2008

Robert Evans (GS Chairman)

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Date: 9th November 2007

Remembrance Service 2007

Headteacher, Mr Peter Harrison, welcomed representatives of the Gowertonian Society to the Remembrance Service at the Gowerton Comprehensive School on Friday, 9th November 2007.

The chairman and vice-chairman of the school governors and representatives of the Gowertonian Society committee were present.

Mr Harrison addressed the assembly and read from the Book of Remembrance and there was a reading by Miss Chloë Guy. The wreaths were laid by Miss Elaine Howell and Mr Ken Thomas, assisted by the head prefects James Wedlake and Samantha Beynon.

Chloë Guy, Gowertonian
Head Girl 2001/2002

Many thanks to Mr Peter Harrison and staff for the usual warm welcome

To read the story of World War II veteran John Williams, please click here

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Date: 10th November 2006

Remembrance Service 2006

The Remembrance Service was held in the Gowerton Comprehensive School on Friday, 10th November 2006. Two of the school governors and some members of the Gowertonian Society committee were present but not one Gowertonian had accepted the invitation this year.

The service was conducted by Mr Paul Green, the headteacher, and included a brief homily by Mrs Rona Davies. The wreaths were laid by Robert Evans and David Borthwick, assisted by the head prefects Rebecca Northey and Rhys Morris. Tony Small led the brass band.

World War II veteran John Williams was not able to attend this year. We wish John a speedy recovery.

Many thanks to Mr Paul Green and staff for the usual warm welcome.

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Date: 11th November 2005

Remembrance Service

The Remembrance Service this year took place at Gowerton Comprehensive School on Friday, 11th November, starting at 8.30am. The service was led by the headteacher, Mr Paul Green.

As usual, some members of the Gowertonian Society committee were present at the service. Dr Alun Jones read the lesson and wreaths were laid by Mr Peter Hughes and Mrs Val Richards, accompanied by Bethan Stephens and Rhodri Jenkins, senior students. For the first time this year an invitation was extended to all Gowertonians wishing to attend.

	Gowertonian, John Williams, World War II veteran, at the Somerfield Store at Gorseinon, selling a poppy to another Gowertonian Glenys Phillips (née Ogilvy).
Click on John's Story to read his account of his wartime experiences

The Memorial Plaque and Book of Remembrance are on view at the Gowerton Comprehensive School