Each year on 11th November, we pause to remember the bravery, sacrifice, and service of those who have given their lives in the line of duty. Last Sunday, like so many communities across the UK, Bury fell silent in honour of the fallen. 

This year, we were proud to take part in the Bury Council Festival of Remembrance — the first event of its kind organised by the Council. The festival brought together communities from across the borough, with Bury Grammar School CCF cadets proudly parading through Bury Town Centre and Tottington as part of the town’s commemorations. 

The occasion featured a moving ceremony in Gallipoli Garden, outside the Fusilier Museum, marking Armistice Day. The service included a parade, wreath-laying, and a moment of reflection, followed by a church service attended by representatives from across the community. 

At Bury Grammar School, Remembrance Day holds deep meaning.  It is an opportunity for our pupils to reflect on the values of service, empathy, and gratitude, and to appreciate the freedoms we enjoy today thanks to the courage of others.  Each year, our whole school community gathers in assemblies to honour these ideals and those who have gone before us. 

In this year’s assemblies, we paid tribute to the former pupils of Bury Grammar School who gave their lives for their country. We also marked the 80th anniversaries of Victory in Europe (VE) Day and Victory over Japan (VJ) Day, milestones that brought the Second World War to an end. 

The assemblies - led by Mr Rodgers (Head of History), Mr Bell (Head of Politics and Teacher of History and Politics), and Mr Partington (Head of Juniors) - carefully guided pupils through the key events of the Second World War. 

We gathered, as the country does every year on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month to remember and pay tribute to the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the defence of freedom, often in conflicts far from home and recognised that the freedoms and peace we enjoy today were paid for by the lives of those who went before us.  We especially remember the pupils from our school who lost their lives in conflict.  

A particular focus for Seniors and Sith Form this year was the story of Henry Parkinson, a former Bury Grammar School pupil and member of Derby House.  

Henry Parkinson, the son of Ernest and Florence Parkinson, was born in 1916 and lived at 7 Arthur Street, Prestwich. He won a scholarship to Bury Grammar School in 1928 and attended until 1933.  He was a member of Derby House and was a keen footballer. 

When the War broke out, he enlisted with the Lancashire Fusiliers and trained as an infantry soldier before volunteering for Airborne service.  He qualified as a glider pilot and became a Sergeant with F Squadron, 14 Wing, of the Glider Pilot Regiment. 

In Mid-1944, aged 28, he married his fiancée, Phyllis Lily Cox in St Albans. 

A couple of months after his wedding, he took part in the Battle of Arnhem, during Op Market Garden.  He took off from RAF Blakehill Farm on 17th September 1944 in a Horsa glider towed by a Dakota transport aircraft to transport a platoon of soldiers to the battle.  He landed safely and then, like all British glider pilots, fought as an infantryman.  His unit’s task was to defend the 1st Airborne Division’s Headquarters.  On 20th September Harry Parkinson’s position was attacked by two German ground attack aircraft. He was hit by accurate machine gun fire and along with several colleagues, was killed instantly.   

He was 28 years old and had been married for 9 weeks. 

Below is the photograph of Henry Parkinson’s grave in the Oosterbaan cemetery in Holland.  The school has laid a wreath at it several times during our visits on the Battlefield Tours.

To conclude the assembly, our School Captains laid a wreath of poppies on behalf of the pupils, and the entire school community observed a two-minute silence - a moment of quiet reflection to remember and honour all those who made the ultimate sacrifice.