April 1, 2014 9.00 am This story is over 119 months old

Lincoln pupils attend special Westminster Abbey event

Prestigious invite: Four local secondary school pupils attended the Commonwealth Observance at Westminster Abbey after winning an essay competition.
L-R: Andy Tallon, Rachel Lawson, Anna Peachman, Emily Watts and teacher Carole Lymn.

Four pupils from a school in Lincoln attended a special event at Westminster Abbey for Commonwealth Day.

Andy Tallon, Emily Watts, Anna Peachman and Rachel Lawson from William Farr School in Welton, alongside teacher Carole Lymn, joined a host of celebrities and the Royal family for the inter-faith gathering.

The Commonwealth Observance was attended by Her Majesty The Queen and Their Royal Highnesses The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, The Earl and The Countess of Wessex.

The were speeches from campaigners such as Malala Yousafzai, Paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and Lord Coe, while MOBO award winner and Brit nominee Laura Mvula performed a specially commissioned poem.

The pupils attended the event after winning an essay writing competition, and sat amongst 1,000 other pupils from across the country.

Headteacher Andy Stones said: “It was a rare and unique opportunity for our pupils to attend such a remarkable event.

“The students chosen thoroughly deserved their day out and we are very proud of them.

“They have come home truly inspired by the event and that only serves to enhance our ethos that hard work and commitment pays dividends for every child.”