Almost 280 Moray schoolchildren have attended a World War One centenary roadshow run by national charity Never Such Innocence at RAF Lossiemouth.
Station Commander, Group Captain Jim Walls, said of the event:
“RAF Lossiemouth was extremely pleased to be invited to host the Never Such Innocence roadshow today. It was a wonderful opportunity for Moray schoolchildren to show their work as part of the World War One commemorations.
Never Such Innocence is dedicated to educating young people about the First World War, its impact and legacy, through creative means. Schoolchildren from eight schools in Moray have been studying the First World War for several months The 2017/18 Never Such Innocence competition invites children and young people to submit poetry, art and songs inspired by events of the Great War. The roadshow at RAF Lossiemouth offered the children, aged between 9 and 15 years of age, an opportunity to showcase their efforts in remembering and recognising the major effect the War had on the world. Other invited guests included: Air Vice Marshal Ross Paterson, Air Officer Scotland; Lord-Lieutenant of Moray Lt Col Grenville Johnstone; Patricia Keppie from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and Lady Lucy French, great-granddaughter of Field Marshal Sir John French and founder of Never Such Innocence.
The Never Such Innocence roadshows in 2018 form part of the Royal Air Force’s centenary celebrations known as RAF100. The celebrations have three themes: commemorate, celebrate and inspire.
Group Captain Jim Walls, said
“In this the year of the RAF’s one-hundredth anniversary, it is especially appropriate that the children could visit RAF Lossiemouth to see how we have developed over the last century into the dynamic, robust force that protects UK airspace and contributes to operations worldwide.”
As part of the roadshow children between the ages of nine and fifteen were invited to recite the poetry, display artwork and perform songs created to commemorate the actions of those involved in the War, the effects it had on them and their families, and the legacies left by the War.
RAF Lossiemouth personnel provided displays and activities for the children and guests. The displays explained how the people, technology and way of working had developed in the RAF over the past 100 years. The children used the opportunity to carry out research and get ideas for possible entry into the Never Such Innocence’s 2018 poetry and art competition, and Songs of the Centenary album.
Lady Lucy French, said:
“As we enter the final centenary year we wish to encourage more young people than ever before to take part in our competition and centenary commemorative events. We are thrilled to have brought the competition to RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland and to see such continued support from local communities.”
