On Tuesday December 3 the Mayor and Mayoress hosted a reception for students and teachers from St Ninian’s and Ballakermeen High Schools in recognition of their contribution to creating remembrance-themed artwork for the Council’s Remembrance Sunday service on November 10 held in St Thomas’s Church.

The Mayor and Mayoress with students and teachers from St Ninian's and Ballakermeen high schools

Art teachers Gayna Miller from St Ninian’s High School (above, fourth from left) and Rachael Killen from Ballakermeen High School (above, back row to the Mayor's left) joined together with students to produce the artwork to honour the men of Douglas who served and died in the Second World War.

Deacon Swift, Hayden Watson, Lilly Elson, Kaitlin Druggan and Colm Sutton of Ballakermeen High School admire the mayoral mace

During their art lessons students from the two secondary schools made decorative labels with the names and addresses of Douglas soldiers who died and a description of how they lost their lives serving their country. The labels were decorated with poppies and attached to the back of the pews.

Ballakermeen High School's Hayden Watson, Colm Sutton, Lilly Elson, Kaitlin Druggan and Deacon Swift with art teacher Rachael Killen

Lower school students designed remembrance army helmets and year 10 art and ceramic students from upper school produced them in modroc (plaster bandage).  The images depicted silhouetted soldiers in battle scenes along with military dogs and horses remembered in purple poppies.

Lilly Elson and Kaitlin Druggan try on the mayoral insignia

The Mayor and Mayoress with Kyan Watt from St Ninian's High School

The Mayor and Mayoress with Erin Christian from St Ninian's High School