Three Year 10 students from Wey Valley Academy performed a moving poem at the Anzac Service in Weymouth on Saturday 25 April . Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia, and New Zealand that broadly commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders 'who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations'. The service is to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who served in the Gallipoli campaign during the First World War (1914-18). 

The poem read by students from Wey Valley Academy 'Sons of the Empire' was written by Alvin Hopper. The Mayor of Weymouth, Cllr Caroline Nickinson commented that 'the students from Wey Valley read beautifully' at the service of remembrance held at the Anzac Memorial on the Esplanade, opposite the Prince Regent Hotel. After the service, the students were fascinated to meet the poet, Alvin Hopper. 

One Year 10 student said, 'this was such an extremely emotive service, and it was such an honour to read the poem'. Mark Chutter, Personal Development Lead at Wey Valley Academy said' this was such an important occasion for our students to participate in this community event to remember all of the Anzac soldiers who supported us during the war and those who are  buried across Weymouth. The stories are resonant today and it is powerful for our students to respect those soldiers and to value our freedom today'.