School in Wainfleet becomes first in county to become affiliated with RBL

A school in Wainfleet has made history by becoming the first in the county to become affiliated to the Royal British Legion.
Tony Goodwin, charman of Lincolnshire Royal British Legion, with local chairman Pat Nicholsas presenting the certificate of affiliation to Lucy Robinson, 9, Daniel Wilkinson, 9, and headteacher Gareth Smith. ANL-180316-171605001Tony Goodwin, charman of Lincolnshire Royal British Legion, with local chairman Pat Nicholsas presenting the certificate of affiliation to Lucy Robinson, 9, Daniel Wilkinson, 9, and headteacher Gareth Smith. ANL-180316-171605001
Tony Goodwin, charman of Lincolnshire Royal British Legion, with local chairman Pat Nicholsas presenting the certificate of affiliation to Lucy Robinson, 9, Daniel Wilkinson, 9, and headteacher Gareth Smith. ANL-180316-171605001

Pupils, staff, guests and representatives of the RBL gathered at Magdalen Primary School for a special assembly where Year 6 pupils where presented with affiliation badges by county chairman Tony Goodwin.

The ceremony marked hope for the future of the Royal British Legion with an understanding by young children of the sacrifice servicemen and there families have made through the years.

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Pat Nicholas, chairman of the local branch of the RBL, said the special relationship with the Legion began in 2009 when she received a letter and classroom work from teacher Tina Wood outlining the work her class had done for Remembrance Day.

Wainlleet Primary School has become affiliated to the Royal British Legion. ANL-180319-095800005Wainlleet Primary School has become affiliated to the Royal British Legion. ANL-180319-095800005
Wainlleet Primary School has become affiliated to the Royal British Legion. ANL-180319-095800005

She shared the contents of the letter which stated: “We looked at the conditions they lived in, how they were expected to fight and survive in the trenches and how the soldiers had to cross to No Man’s Land to fight.

“We discussed why the poppy is used as the symbol of remembrance and how important money raised from all the poppy sales support the soldiers and their families from the past and present.

“As their children I felt very proud of how they transferred their thoughts to words and thought they should be shared.”

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Since then the pupils’ efforts have raised £1,460,20 for the RBL - compared with £211.45 prior to that.

The ceremony where Wainfleet Primary School became the first school in the county to become affiliated to the Royal British Legion. ANL-180319-095823005The ceremony where Wainfleet Primary School became the first school in the county to become affiliated to the Royal British Legion. ANL-180319-095823005
The ceremony where Wainfleet Primary School became the first school in the county to become affiliated to the Royal British Legion. ANL-180319-095823005

Following the homage when the standard was lowered on stage, the school sang an emotional song, We Will Remember Them - ‘Turn your thoughts on this occasion,

‘To those who fought and died in war,

‘Years have passed and time forgotten,

‘But we will remember the soldiers once more’

Examplmples of the classroom work that had led to Wainfleet Primary School becoming affiliated to the Royal British Legion. ANL-180319-094146005Examplmples of the classroom work that had led to Wainfleet Primary School becoming affiliated to the Royal British Legion. ANL-180319-094146005
Examplmples of the classroom work that had led to Wainfleet Primary School becoming affiliated to the Royal British Legion. ANL-180319-094146005

Afterwards, John Johnson, county vice-chairman of the RBL, addressed the pupils and said: “I have had a tear in my eye. What is special is you are the first school to become part of the Royal British Legion so please give yourselves a clap.”

Mr Goodwin welcomed the school to the RBL family and said: “Youth is the future of the RBL.

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“This year is the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War and 73 years since the end of the Second World War and soon there will be no veterans left to remind us of that.

“It is important that the message is passed on to young people so that war never happens like this again.”

Wainlleet Primary School has become affiliated to the Royal British Legion. ANL-180319-095800005Wainlleet Primary School has become affiliated to the Royal British Legion. ANL-180319-095800005
Wainlleet Primary School has become affiliated to the Royal British Legion. ANL-180319-095800005

Gareth Smith, headteacher at the school. said: “It is a proud day for us to be the first school in Lincolnshire to be affiliated to the Royal British Legion and we looking forward to working with them in the future.”

His words were echoed by the pupils. Lucy Robinson, 9, said: “We are doing this to help the soldiers and their families and make people think about the soldiers who died in the war.”

Daniel Wilkinson, 9, said: “It feels quite good to be the first school to be affiliated to the RBL. We raise lots of money every year.”

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