Sunday 2nd November, The Town House, Hamilton
The annual Festival of Remembrance took place on Sunday 2nd November at The Town House, Hamilton, bringing together members of the community to honour and remember those who lost their lives in conflict.
This year’s service featured outstanding performances from children and young people representing schools across South Lanarkshire. The South Lanarkshire Schools’ WEE Big Band was honoured to be invited by organiser Rev Ross Blackman to perform for an audience including past and present members of the armed forces. The SLS WEE Big Band is a compact offshoot of the main SLS Big Band, performing the same jazz and swing repertoire with a more intimate, nuanced approach. The WEE Big Band features a smaller lineup but it still delivers the big band experience!
The young musicians gave an exceptional performance, reflecting their talent, dedication, and commitment to service. By volunteering their time to contribute to such a significant civic occasion, these pupils demonstrated the values of responsibility, respect, and community engagement.
Participation in events of this nature plays a vital role in helping young people to develop wider life and employability skills, including teamwork, confidence, and leadership. Such experiences also strengthen pathways into further and higher education while fostering a lifelong appreciation for civic duty and cultural contribution.
The event was a memorable and meaningful occasion, and the young people valued the opportunity to share their music, connect with the wider community, and represent their schools and the authority with pride.
