CLARENDON pupils in Trowbridge commemorated Remembrance Day by presenting the Wiltshire Times with a completed report on the history of one its former workers.

Students Sophie Frisby and Phoebe Goulding, both 14, made the moving visit to the Menin Gate Memorial in Belgium where they discovered the grave of William George Jones.

Originally from Potterne, Mr Jones spent part of his career working for the newspaper, but left to fight in the First World War as a fusilier.

He died during the battle on March, 9 in 1918 aged 31 and was buried at Tyne Cot in Ypres Salient.

Their trip to Belgium was part of a nationwide programme, funded by the Department for Education and the Department for Communities and Local Government, and Clarendon was the only school in Wiltshire to take part.

Harriet Clarkson, assistant principal at Clarendon, said: “It is a tremendous effort by the students and we have enjoyed doing the follow-up work because it allowed us to remember someone from Trowbridge.

“I think is has been a learning curve for the students and it has meant a great deal to be able to remember and work with the history centre because the pupils have learnt research skills which are invaluable to them.

“The trip was wonderful and if I could have designed an educational trip, then it would have been this one. We were able to visit the graves and the whole trip tied together so well in finding out the information of the individuals involved.”

They were joined by MP for South West Wiltshire Andrew Murrison and more than 100 other students and teachers on The First World War Centenary Battlefield Tours Programme, run by UCL Institute of Education and Equity.

MP for South West Wiltshire Andrew Murrison said: “To be able to see one of the schools in my constituency take such an active role in the programme is brilliant.

“It is particularly interesting that the gentleman in the report comes from Trowbridge and worked at the Wiltshire Times. I think it is important to research individuals who have worked and lived locally and to pay respect to them.

“The point is that young people are extremely interested in this type of work and they get it. I think evidence suggests they are very keen to carry on Remembrance services in the future.”

The four-day trip began at the Dover Education Centre where they did research on Mr Jones before travelling from the North of France to Menin Gate, doing some sightseeing along the way.

They also attended the Last Post Ceremony at the war memorial which takes place every night where locals and visitors gather to pay their respects.