The Annual Remembrance Day Service was held on Saturday, 10 November 2018. Usually held on the actual 11th of November but with the day being a Sunday and our leaders were not available for this year, we held it on the previous day. In 2019, it will be held on Monday, the 11th as usual in the Entrance Hall of the former School Building in Shaw Steet This service starting at 10.45 am. is now well established in the calendar of the Association's activities. Over 33 Old Boys, Wives and friends gathered with again this year a fine colour party of 3 members of the cadei forces from the Liverpool College with Warrant Officer Nelson. They all did an excellent job and formed a fitting background to the service. The Cadets were all thanked for their attendance and we wished them well in their future careers. In fact one of the members, the sergeant in charge of the colour party was joining the Regular Army in the near future, we especially wished her well. We were a little saddened to record that two of our regular attendees, Joe Lucas and Paul Goulden had passed away since our last gathering.
We have a good relationship with the caretaker, Mike, who helps us all he can ensuring the car park is available for us to use and of course the toilet is also available. He also makes sure that about ten chairs lent to us by one of the residents are in position for us to use. This is a big help to us and we are very grateful to him for his very kind offer. Our Vice President Arthur Evans welcomed those attending the service at 10.54 am. and introduced and thanked Mrs Jill Wright, Lay Minister from Christ Church Higher Bebington, who conducted the service, and the Rev Henry Corbett, the local Vicar of St Peter's Church, Langrove Street, Liverpool 3, for attending and taking part in the service. In his short address he also thanked the cadets and leaders for their attendance and he welcomed Netta Clarke, the widow of the past President and School Headmaster and their daughter, who has not been able to attend the previous year. He then stated that he had received apologies for absence from Hans van Mourik Brockman, the Principal of Liverpool College and Gwyn Thomas OBE, the COBA President. He then thanked Ron James for producing, as usual, the Order of Service.
At 10,56 am. Jill commenced the service by reading the Seafarer's Version of the 23rd Psalm; following this, she continued in the saying of the “Act of Remembrance”:-

“ Let us remember before God and commend into his safe keeping, those who hove died for their country in war; those who we knew and those whose memory we treasure; and all who lived and died in the service of humankind. “

At the appropriate time, a recording of the 'Last Post ' was sounded and the cadets lowered their Standards. The exhortation of the words of Lawrence Binyon were spoken by Charles Brimage:-

"They shall not grow old as we, who are left, grow old; Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn. At the going down of the Sun and in the morning, we will remember them."

The gathering replied :-

"We will remember them"

Then followed the two minutes silence broken by the playing of the Reveille. Following the raising of their standards, Charles spoke the Kohima Epitaph :-

''When you go home tell them of us and say; For your tomorrow, we gave our today."

Jill gave the prayer :-

'Almighty and eternal God, from whose love in Christ we cannot be parted , either by death or life; hear our prayers and thanksgiving for all whom we remember this day; fulfil in them the purpose of your love; and bring us all, with them, to your eternal ioy; through Jesus Christ our Lord"

Wreaths were laid by our Vice President, Arthur Evans, at the World War I memorial plaque and by our recently newly elected Chairman David Winsland at the “World War II and other subsequent conflicts” memorial plaque. Then followed a reading by Jill from ‘Micah: 4: 1-5’ after which she gave a short address. This was followed by a rousing singing of the Hymn “O God our help in ages past" echoing throughout the building. Then the Rev. Henry Corbett gave a short address followed by his giving the blessing and dismissal. Once again it had been a touching Service and good to remember and honour former pupils and those connected with the School who had made the supreme sacrifice in conflicts.
Following the service, all galhered to enjoy tea, coffee and biscuits and true to form all enjoyed the chatter that ensued. Whilst the attendance was higher this year, we hope that more Old Boys and their families will join with us on Monday, 11th November 2019. One of the Old Boys who attended the service for the first time said that he had seen the notice in the Liverpool Echo and attended in his Paramedic uniform after receiving permission to come from work from his superior. It was good to see and chat with him. Remember, all will be very welcome.

Our thanks go to Richard Thwaite (1943-1949) for this report.

BTW - We used to call the Cloisters, "THE BIKE SHEDS".

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Names Of The Fallen

During the Great War from 1914 to 1918, in common with other schools throughoutthe Country, senior pupils from the Liverpool Collegiate, on leaving their academic years, volunteered for service in the armed forces. Many from the school fell on the battlefields of France and Belgium and elsewhere; of these 188 men suffered the ultimate sacrifice. The names of these men were recorded on a large bronze plaque which was fixed to a wall in the entrance hall at the main doors of the school building. It remained there until the school closed. Since then the plaque survived two serious fires in the building which also endured years of constant vandalism.

When members of the Old Boys' Association learned of the proposals to convert the wrecked building to residential use, they were delighted to learn, following enquiries from the Developers, Urban Splash, that the plaque would be retained and re-installed in the refurbished front hall. In addition, Urban Splash confirmed that the original black and white tiled floor in the hallway, inset with the school motto, was also to be retained.

For the 100 former pupils who died in the Second World War (1939 to 1945) a memorial plaque had been affixed in 1951 to the magnificent School Organ in the Assembly Hall. Unfortunately this plaque was destroyed during one of the severe fires that completely gutted the Hall. The Council of the Association in 2003 determined that another plaque should be commissioned and, with the permission of the Developers, erected in the entrance hall to recognise those former pupils who sacrificed their future for us. The Council met the total cost from current funds. It was also agreed that this plaque should recognise those pupils who had died on active service in other conflicts since 1945. The plaque was erected in 2004.

1914 to 1918

1939 to 1945

Whilst the Council has endeavoured to be as accurate as possible in recording the names of those who died, any more information about former pupil's involvement in the two world wars and other conflicts would be most welcome. To arrange to send information and/or photographs, please, click on here.

A bound Book of Remembrance containing all the names has been passed to the Liverpool Record Office for posterity.

Bravery Awards

The Association has little information on awards to servicemen in the various conflicts and would welcome details. To arrange to send information, please click on here.