19th July 2014

Our thanks to the pupils, staff and head teacher Mr Thacker at Calow Church of England (VC) Primary School for the opportunity to be part of their Great War commemorations.     During our research we had been fortunate to find a number of relatives of the Calow men from various parts of the country and they were invited too. 
 

The atrocious weather tried hard to dampen the enthusiasm of the pupils and invited guests during the tree planting ceremony in East Wood Park – 25 trees were planted one for each Calow soldier - but stoically we did the job with the dignity and reverence the occasion demanded and no one complained.
 

A piper led the assembly through the streets of  the village to the school, where the commemoration service was to take place.  Following addresses by the Bishop of Repton. Father Kevin Ball, and Mr Martin Thacker, Hallamshire Military Concert band entertained us with a repertoire of Great war songs , old classics and more modern tunes.
 

A lovely occasion and a fitting tribute to the fallen men of Calow.