HRH The Princess Royal honours the fallen at Stonyhurst College

06 Oct 2014

On the 24th September Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal visited Stonyhurst College in Lancashire, in her capacity as Patron of the Woodland Trust’s Centenary Woods Project. The Woodland Trust has overseen the planting of three million trees across the UK this year to commemorate the fallen. The Princess Royal planted a tree at Stonyhurst alongside 301 oak saplings planted by the Stonyhurst College Combined Cadet Force. Each tree represents a serviceman who died in the First World War, and other conflicts, who had attended the school, which has a proud history of military service.

The Contingent Commander of Stonyhurst Combined Cadet Force, Lt Col Andrew Barber, escorted The Princess Royal to the new tree plantation, where she chatted to cadets, and was given a tour of the historic College by the Headmaster Andrew Johnson. She was shown two Victoria Cross medals which had been awarded to former Stonyhurst pupils in the First World War. One of these was the first VC of the conflict, awarded to Lieutenant Maurice Dease for his bravery in the opening engagement of 1914 at the Battle of Mons. The Princess Royal met pupils and staff from Stonyhurst and representatives from the Woodland Trust. At a Reception in the Top Refectory, which is lined with the portraits of Stonyhurst’s seven VCs, The Princess Royal said in her address: “Stonyhurst is the perfect place for this commemorative tree planting, with its long history and understanding of service.” Andrew Johnson the Headmaster said: “It was a tremendous day for Stonyhurst, the CCF and the Woodland Trust. We were delighted to be able to welcome the Princess Royal to the College. The staff, cadets and pupils very much enjoyed meeting her.”

Photo: The Princess Royal meets cadets at Stonyhurst College, escorted by Lt Col. Andrew Barber, Contingent Commander of the Stonyhurst CCF