This morning our Head Girl and School Council had the privilege of being invited to the Royal Hospital Chelsea to represent our school at the Drumhead Service. Other local schools also attended the event.
The service took place in the Figure Courtyard. The girls joined in with the minute’s silence, sang hymns, listened to singing from the Chelsea Pensioner Singers and even had the treat of watching the military band perform. After the service, some children laid wreaths and poppies around the drums in the middle of the courtyard.
After the service, our Chelsea Pensioner guide took us to see some of the main buildings. We visited the large dining hall, in which some of Harry Potter was filmed, and the chapel. What a special treat for us all!
Miss Smith, Senior Deputy Head
Here is a little bit more information about the Drumhead Services:
The Drumhead Services date back to the 1700s when soldiers, on the brink of battle, sought a moment for reflection and to honour their fallen comrades. The name comes from the practice of stacking drums to create a makeshift altar. At the Royal Hospital, their annual Drumhead Service, held on the Friday before Remembrance Sunday, serves as a time for the Chelsea Pensioners to reflect personally on those they have lost.
