Beloved BBC reporter reflects on Bay Leadership Academy’s poignant Remembrance service

Dave Guest – a well-loved BBC presenter and journalist for almost 40 years – is a parishioner at St John’s church and kindly wrote a piece about the service, focused on the thoughtful involvement of Bay’s pupils and staff, and the respectful atmosphere they helped to create. As a Morecambe resident, Dave was a pupil at Bay Leadership Academy in the 1970s - when the school was known as Heysham High School - and he looks back at his time at the school with warmth and fondness.

Below, his words are shared in full:

“As the clock reached 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month the packed church of St John the Divine fell totally silent. The pews were filled with more than 300 pupils and teachers from Bay Leadership Academy – but you could have heard a pin drop.

“Their teachers had asked to hold a service of remembrance at our beautiful church. Having dealt with the school previously, we did not hesitate to say yes. At past events, the young people of Bay Leadership Academy have shown themselves to be respectful, mature, friendly and brilliantly behaved. Their latest visit on November 11 was no different.

“They’d trudged through some miserable November drizzle to make their way from the school to the church – but on arrival they were bright, pleasant and had a ready good morning greeting for those of us handing out orders of service at the door. Each remembered to say thank you as they took one.

“The service itself was conducted by our Lay Reader, Mags Carr. As an experienced teacher and service leader she is well accustomed to making such occasions relevant to her audience. But the staff and young people had also clearly put a lot of effort into preparing for this event too.

“They rehearsed their readings carefully and listened to feedback from their teacher, making their delivery during the service clear and fluent. There was also a very moving poem that had been written by Paige Henshall, a pupil in Year 9.

“The last post was played perfectly by music teacher Mr Larder and as silence fell the only sound was the rustle of paper poppy leaves falling from an opening high above the Chancel. Teachers Miss Brown and Mr Walker had volunteered to climb the winding, and rather grubby, stone staircase leading to the loft space. But the spectacle of the poppy petals falling during the silence is always well worth the effort.

“Young people often get a bad press with criticism of the way they speak, dress or behave. But the young people from Bay Leadership Academy can be truly proud of the way they conducted themselves on November 11. Their teachers and families can be proud too.

“I was a pupil at the school and went on to work as a TV reporter with the BBC. The job involved filming in many schools and at various events involving young people over the years. I’m proud to say that the way that Bay’s young people conducted themselves matched the very best I had seen over those years. Well done to everyone involved!”

Dave’s reflections echo what many present felt on the day – that the service was not only an act of remembrance, but also a reminder of the empathy and integrity of Bay Leadership Academy’s pupils. Their conduct spoke volumes about their character and they can look back on the event with immense pride, knowing that they honoured those who gave so much with grace and sincerity.