ROCKWELL Green Primary School has strengthened its link with the Wellington branch of the Royal British Legion by becoming affiliated to it.

An Affiliated Event was held at All Saints Church, Rockwell Green, during its Easter Service.

Peter Critchard, secretary of the local branch and a councillor, said: “In around 2000, under the guidance of the previous head teacher, Peter Williamson, the children and members of staff undertook that once a month they would go down to Wellington Cemetery to lay a posy of flowers on the war graves, each time carefully removing the old flowers and replacing them with new.

“This is always done with such care and dignity. During this time members of the teaching staff are now giving up part of their weekends to allow children from the school to lay a Remembrance Wreath in Wellington Park on Remembrance Sunday. Over the years the school has received certificates of appreciation from the local branch. On his retirement the head teacher was presented with a personal certificate of appreciation for all he had done with the school.

“Each Remembrance Time in November children at school make beautiful displays of poppies, wonderful tributes to those people who have served and those who are still in the service of their country.

“Members of the local branch have seen for themselves how much work and dedication Rockwell Green Primary School puts into supporting the people who are in the service of their country and the work of the Royal British Legion.

“We are so extremely grateful that the new head teacher, Morwenna Dunstan, is continuing to allow her school to carry on with its service to our community.

“Which is why the Wellington branch decided that the school should affiliate to the Royal British Legion, the first school in Somerset to do so.

“The Royal British Legion Standard, Taunton Branch, The Wellington Branch Standard and The Wellington Women’s Section Standard, along with the Rockwell Green Primary School Banner, were paraded into the church at the start of the service.

“The Certificates of Affiliation were jointly signed by the school’s head teacher and the Wellington branch chairman, Ray Filler. The county chairman, Major Robert McDonald, presented the certificates to Rockwell Green Primary School’s head boy Riley Bower and head girl Elaine Robinson. The chairman of governors, Simon Davey, Wellington Town Mayor Cllr Janet Lloyd, consort Ian Lloyd, Deputy Town Mayor Cllr Bob Bowrah and town clerk Greg Dyke were also in attendance.

“The Wellington branch is extremely indebted to the town council for funding the cost of the flowers laid by the children.

“We would like to say how much all of us at the Royal British Legion appreciate the time and effort that was put into organising this wonderful event on our behalf and the community.”