Students at West Nottinghamshire College paid a dignified tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice as they staged their sixth annual Remembrance Day parade – while classmates proudly represented the college at a national conference in Birmingham.
UPS students gather together at the Derby Road campus after the parade.
Almost 100 uniformed protective services (UPS) students came together on Wednesday (11 November) to welcome dignitaries, staff, family members and friends to the traditional service at the college’s Derby Road campus in Mansfield.
The drill was led by Callen Barrowcliffe.
The commemorations combined a meticulously rehearsed military-style drill display, readings, wreath-laying ceremony and two minutes’ silence with an exhibition of student research exploring wartime history, military service and personal stories of courage and sacrifice.
Event organisers and UPS students Lexie Saunders and Ava-Rose Walls lay a wreath from the UPS team.
Supported by UPS staff, some of whom have military backgrounds, students spent weeks preparing for the Mansfield ceremony, developing the precision, discipline and teamwork needed to deliver the formal parade.
The event was coordinated by Advanced Extended Diploma in Uniformed Protective Services students Lexie Saunders and Ava-Rose Walls, who took responsibility for organising their classmates and ensuring proceedings ran smoothly.
For Lexie, who also helped organise last year’s ceremony, it was another opportunity to put her leadership skills into practice.
She explained: “Last year I organised it with one of my friends, and this year I stepped up again and asked to do it. Ava-Rose was absolutely willing to help. Everyone co-operated really well and together we managed it!”
Ava-Rose Walls and Lexie Saunders with some of their peers.
The parade itself featured 15 students from across the college’s Level 1, 2 and 3 UPS programmes, led by Callen Barrowcliffe, who expertly coordinated the group’s precisely timed drill movements.
Cameron Roberts delivered the Exhortation from Laurence Binyon’s For the Fallen, before the Last Post sounded and those gathered observed two minutes’ silence.
Vinnie King then read the Kohima Epitaph, followed by the laying of wreaths by invited dignitaries, including Mansfield MP Steve Yemm, Deputy Lieutenant Tracey Davenport JP DL, and councillors Matthew Relf and Stuart Richardson.
Vice-principal Louise Knott addressed the gathering, reflecting on the importance of remembrance and praising students and staff for their commitment to delivering such a respectful annual occasion.
Vice principal Louise Knott thanked the UPS team for their dignified ceremony.
She also laid a wreath on behalf of the college, while Lexie and Ava-Rose laid a wreath representing their fellow students.
Vice principal Louise Knott laying a wreath from the college.
Alongside the parade, guests explored an exhibition of research projects prepared by students, who had investigated military history, wartime experiences and the lives of those who served.
Melissa Hodgkinson, Shannon Robbins and Poppy Smith with their research work.
Among the most personal tributes was a display created by siblings Mia and Leland Tighe in memory of their late uncle, Private Damian Wright, from Mansfield, who served with the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment.
Damian joined the Army in 2002 and served in Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Afghanistan before tragically losing his life while serving overseas.
Mia, who never had the opportunity to meet her uncle, explained: “He served in Afghanistan. Unfortunately, he drove over a landmine. He was my mum’s brother, so it affected her quite a bit.”
Their display included a photograph of Damian in uniform, details of his military career and moving tributes from fellow servicemen.
Siblings Mia and Leland Tighe researched their late uncle Private Damien Wright.
Other projects explored the experiences of First World War soldiers and the horrors of the Holocaust, including research by Krystian Kawecki into conditions at Auschwitz and Ellie Wilson into Holocaust survivor and human rights campaigner Elie Wiesel.
There was a wealth of research and detail into life during the World Wars.
Students also shared family histories, artwork and poppy displays, inviting visitors to discuss their findings and reflect on the experiences of previous generations.
A Royal British Legion stall offered poppies for sale, while a cake stall provided refreshments for guests attending the ceremony.
Poppies were sold from the Royal British Legion stall.
Meanwhile, at the Association of Colleges’ annual conference in Birmingham, the college’s second contingent of UPS students delivered their own remembrance drill before an audience of more than 1,500 people.
Their participation followed a suggestion by principal Andrew Cropley, who recognised the high standards and professionalism consistently demonstrated by students at the college’s annual commemorations.
UPS students performed an Armistice Day parade at Birmingham’s International Conference Centre.
Programme area leader for uniformed protective services Simon Humphreys accompanied the group to Birmingham, supporting them as they represented the college on a national stage. The Last Post and Reveille were played on the cornet by the college’s careers, employability and progression administrator and retired army musician Mike Kilmartin.
Careers, employability and progression administrator Mike Kilmartin played the bugle.
Simon said: “It was an incredible honour for our students to represent the college at such a prestigious national event. They demonstrated outstanding professionalism, discipline and respect throughout the ceremony, and the response from the audience was exceptional. I could not have been prouder of them.
“Alongside the service taking place at our Derby Road campus, it was a powerful reminder of why we continue to commemorate this important day.
“Remembrance is about more than tradition. It is about recognising the courage, service and sacrifice of those who gave their lives, and those who continue to serve. It is vital that our young people understand the significance of those sacrifices and help ensure that those who served are never forgotten.”
UPS teachers with the wreath table.