The Annual Old Bordenian Association remembrance gathering was held at the School at 11a.m. on Saturday 8th November, to commemorate the 99 Old Bordenians who were killed on active service during the two World Wars and in other conflicts. It was attended by a number of Old Bordenians, including Denis Jarrett, one of the founders of this event; by Anne Whitehead, daughter of Able Seaman Harry Bruce Hartridge, Royal Navy; and by Kathy Gambell and family, relatives of George Alfred King, Merchant Navy. We were also pleased to welcome three pupils from the School : Anthony Brinkman (School Captain), Tom Chapman (Vice-Captain) and prefect Lois Wakefield.
The service itself, conducted by Rev. Stanley Evans, took place in the vestibule beneath the Memorial Boards. The names of those who died were read out, followed by a minute's silence. As usual, it was a simple but moving act of remembrance. Afterwards, we adjourned to the School Library and listened to a talk by Marc Stewart on one of the Old Boys killed in WW1, Harold Locke, one of no fewer than nine brothers who attended Borden. Marc is now within sight of completing the mammoth task of compiling biographies of each of the individuals who were killed, which serve to remind us that they were not just names but flesh-and-blood young men to whom we all owe an unrepayable debt of gratitude.