​Poignant Act of Remembrance with a bugle steeped in history

Students and staff gathered to remember the fallen, including 98 former pupils killed in the First and Second World Wars, in a particularly poignant Act of Remembrance

SIXTH former Henry Porter stirred powerful emotions when he played the Last Post at Ripon Grammar School’s Remembrance Day service.

For the old copper and brass bugle the 18-year-old pressed to his lips belonged to his grandfather, William Albert Littler, who played and carried it into battle during the Second World War.

William, who survived the war, joined the Royal Engineers when he was 19 years old in 1939 and fought all the way into Germany from Normandy.

Henry, 18, who took up the trumpet before he knew about his great-grandfather’s musical skills, is proud to come from a military family.

His grandmother, William’s wife, operated anti-aircraft search lights and guns when she served in the ATS, attached to the Royal Artillery.

Their son joined the Royal Air Force at 16 and worked his way up to the rank of squadron leader. Henry’s dad is a commander in the Royal Navy.

At the end of the service, head girl and boy Zara Ali and Monty Bleiker laid wreaths on the school's Roll of Honour memorial in the library.

Due to heavy rain, the event was moved indoors from the playing fields and live-streamed to all students and staff in classrooms.

Henry's grandmother

Students also played the Last Post and Reveille for a local primary school