Remembrance Day 2015: School children on song with tribute to fallen

Year 11 students Dominic Ridge, Cameron Parkes and Tom Rhodes, all aged 15 from The Wordsley School, joined forces with music students to turn their poem into a powerful song.

The song, entitled The Red Reaches, is a moving homage to the poppy and the tragic and painful memories it represents.

Andrew Fisher, head of music, helped the pupils set the poem to music.

He said: "Every year we have an assembly with a live music performance for remembrance day, but this year we wanted to do something different.

"Three of the Year 11 lads came up with a moving poem during the school holidays and we decided to set it to music. The haunting chorus line in the poem lent itself beautifully to for conversation into our song's motif and refrain."

Music was added to The Red Reaches by school musicians from the Year 9 band, with vocals coming from Lucy-Mae Hill, aged 13.

The song includes the lyrics 'our men our hurt, yet, find a shield, in the red reaches of the poppy fields'.

Mr Fisher spoke of his pride in the students and how they performed the piece with dignity.

"They have done brilliantly well," he said.

"I am immensely proud of all the kids – for them to pull something like this out the bag at their age is exceptional. The song mainly focuses on World War One memories but we wanted to emphasise the loss and tragedy reflected in all wars, and the students did that with dignity.

"It is not about making any profit from the song for us, but it would be great if it encourages people to make a donation to the British Legion."

Mr Fisher added: "Seven musicians took part in the performances last week and it was a cracking rendition of what performers twice their age would usually do.

"On Wednesday we will be in putting on a similar performance in front of the mayor too and we can't wait to show the town this pupil inspiring piece."

The song is available for free download from the school's website www.wordsleyschool.co.uk