School remembrance service to be held at St Augustine's Ramsgate

On Tuesday 11 November St Augustine’s Church, Ramsgate, will hold a Service of Remembrance, beginning at 10.45am. In particular the Old Boys of St Augustine’s School who died in the First World War will be commemorated. The service is open to all.

This will be the first time for many years that the Old Augustinians have had a remembrance service. The School was based in Ramsgate for much of its existence, and St Augustine’s Church was used for many of the school’s important occasions. The School moved to Westgate in 1971 and closed in 1995.

Ursuline College pupils will take part in the service, and will read the Roll of Honour of the 38 former pupils of St Augustine’s who died in WWI. Many St Augustine’s boys moved to the Ursuline College in 1995, which is also in Westgate.

Two minutes’ silence will be observed at 11am. Michael Thunder, a RFC pilot who was killed in 1916, was the grandson of Augustus Pugin, who built St Augustine’s Church. Thunder is buried in the churchyard, and a wreath will be laid on his tomb at the end of the service.

Andrew Sharp, Secretary of the Old Augustinians, said, “It is very important that we should remember the sacrifice these former pupils at St Augustine’s gave for their country. In this centenary year since the start of the First World War, not only are they to be remembered by their families and communities, but by the former pupils of their schools too.

“We very much hope that as many former pupils at St Augustine’s living in and around Thanet will be able to attend this Remembrance service as well as any descendants of the families of those on the Old Augustinians’ Roll of Honour.”

John Coverdale, St Augustine’s Centre Manager, said, “We are very pleased that the Old Augustinians will be returning in this centenary year of the First World War to honour their fallen Old Boys. It is very appropriate that they come here on this day, and we hope it will become an annual tradition.”

The service is open to all, and will be followed by refreshments.

For more information see: www.augustineshrine.co.uk | www.augustinefriends.co.uk

E-mail: office@augustineshrine.co.uk

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