NSI Armistice Centenary Activities

As we approach the centenary of the Armistice on 11th November 2018, we are so proud of NSI children and young people who are playing their part in marking this important day.

Saturday 3rd November: NI Festival of Remembrance - 2017-18 poetry winner Becki Pinkerton takes part in the Royal British Legion’s Northern Ireland Festival of Remembrance

Wednesday 7th November: NSI Centenary Finale, Buckingham Palace - by kind permission of Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, all First, Second, and Third Place Winners from the four annual centenary competitions are welcomed to a Tea Party at Buckingham Palace to mark four years of children and young people playing their part.

Wednesday 7th November: Publication of Centenary Legacy Books - the Never Such Innocence Anthology and Stories of the First World War are officially published!

Thursday 8th November: Games of Remembrance, Nottingham - Children from Germany who have taken part in Together attend the Games and act as mascots and flag bearers! Children from Greece also join them on the pitch and to watch the two matches between the British Army and the German Armed Forces football teams!

Friday 9th November: Langley Vale Centenary Wood (Surrey) - 2016/17 winner Rebecca Farnfield reads her incredible poem inspired by a tree watching over the War I Stand Alone (p.88 of NSI Anthology).

Sunday 11th November: Service of Thanksgiving, Westminster Abbey - 2017/18 poetry winners Jasleen Singh and Becki Pinkerton read prayers as part of the Service. Together winning poem Carpe Diem features in the Order of Service.
Children and young people from all four years of the competition also attend the Service in recognition of their contribution to the centenary commemorations.

Sunday 11th November: All Saints Church, Odiham - after hearing Lydia Grigg’s incredible song Remember (available as part of the Songs of the Centenary album!), RAF Odiham have invited her to sing on Remembrance Day at their local Church.

Sunday 11th November: Belfast Cathedral - 2017-18 poetry entrant Hannah is invited to attend the Remembrance Day Service in recognition of her work to commemorate the Centenary.

Sunday 11th November: Glasnevin Cemetery - a special commemorative booklet of winning work of the Island of Ireland extension of the competition is distributed to attendees.

Sunday 11th November: Llandaff Cathedral - poetry winner Mari reads her poem "Yr Enaid Byw" / “My Living Soul” (p.125 of the Never Such Innocence Anthology) as part of the service.

Sunday 11th November: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park - Lili Fairclough, 2017-18 Runner Up for ages 11-14 from local school Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy, reads her moving poem We Shot the Dreamers (p.150 of the Never Such Innocence Anthology).

Tuesday 13th November: Brackfield Centenary Wood (near Derry / Londonderry) - Two Never Such Innocence poets, from County Dublin (ROI) and County Antrim (NI), take part in a commemoration of all those across the Island of Ireland who lost their lives in the First World War.

Thursday 15th November: Together Awards Ceremony, British Embassy in Berlin - Children from the UK and Germany receive their prizes for winning Together: A UK-German Centenary Project at the British Embassy, hosted by the British Ambassador to Germany. We are so proud of all of the winners!