Poppy pride for pair from Oldham

HONOUR . . . Blue Coat pupils Ryan Wan and Olivia Price in Oldham Parish Church

TWO Blue Coat School pupils will play key roles in our annual Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall.

Head girl Olivia Price (18), from Uppermill, will read the dedication during the service which is attended by the Queen.

BBC viewers will also see head boy Ryan Wan (17), from Failsworth, read the final prayer.

The Royal British Legion service on November 8 commemorates those who have lost their lives in conflicts and includes the iconic poppy drop.

It will be conducted by national chaplain to the legion — the Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Rev Nigel McCulloch. Performers include Hayley Westenra, Johnathan Ansell and Katherine Jenkins.

The honour of reading the dedication and prayer is usually given to London public school pupils and the bishop was keen for others to be involved.

Olivia’s grandfather served in the Second World War and her uncle recently retired from the Army, having served in the Falklands and Kuwait.

She said: “It is such an honour, especially with the current situation that our armed forces are facing in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“We go down on the Friday and have rehearsals on Friday and Saturday.

“I am very proud. We will be putting Oldham on the map.”

Ryan is a sergeant in 317 Failsworth Air Cadets and has taken part in Manchester’s Battle of Britain parades.

He said: “I will probably be more nervous when it gets a bit closer to the time.”

Bishop McCulloch has been national chaplain to the Royal British Legion since 2002. He was chosen because his own father was killed in action in 1943.

He said: “The Festival of Remembrance is always a moving occasion and this year it will be extra special to hear a citation and prayer read by pupils from one of the church schools in Manchester Diocese.”

Blue Coat head teacher Julie Hollis said: “It is a great honour. I am immensely proud, as are the staff, parents and the local authority. I know Olivia and Ryan will be brilliant.”