STUDENTS HONOUR LOCAL WAR HEROES IN CEMETERY TIDY

Students from City of Wolverhampton College are honouring local war heroes by sprucing up cemeteries across the city.

More than 70 students on a range of Public Service courses will be spending a week working at Bilston Cemetery, Merridale Cemetery, St John’s Church and St Michael and All Angels Church burial ground in Tettenhall.

Under the guidance of personnel from 4^th Battalion The Mercian Regiment, the students will be locating the graves of service men and women, cleaning their headstones and removing weeds.

The project, named Exercise Eagle Learner, forms part of the students’ course, but also aims to broaden their understanding of the impact of war and sacrifice with a local perspective.

Lecturer Richard Jones said: “These students all have aspirations of working in the Public Services so Exercise Eagle Learner helps illustrate the commitment and sacrifice made by service personnel over the last century.

“The project also gives students the chance to work with the army and experience what it is like to follow instructions and build team skills in a working environment.”

Captain Austin Miller said: “This is a good opportunity for local 4 MERCIAN soldiers to interact with students and pass on some of the values and standards which the army work to, plus support a local college in a worthwhile endeavour.

“This is more than just cleaning up local cemeteries, but supporting the students to understand the impact of war and the sacrifices made.”

 The activity forms part of the Armed Forces Community Covenant, a pledge of mutual support between the city and its Armed Forces community. The Covenant aims to encourage all citizens to support the local Armed Forces community and make it easier for Service personnel, families and veterans to access the help and support they need.