Festival of Friends Celebration at Tidworth Garrison
On Friday 26 June 2026, nine service pupils from Years 7–8 had the opportunity to attend the Festival of Friends celebration event at Tidworth Garrison. Held during Armed Forces Week, the event played an important role in recognising and supporting the armed forces community, particularly the experiences of service children and their families.
The day provided a valuable and engaging experience, bringing together military organisations and service children for a series of interactive workshops and inspirational talks.
Throughout the day, pupils participated in a range of hands-on activities designed to encourage creativity, teamwork and curiosity. Highlights included a juggling and circus skills workshop, which challenged pupils to develop coordination and resilience, and a “Seekers Create” doodle art session, allowing them to express themselves artistically in a relaxed, supportive environment.
Students also benefited from direct engagement with different regiments. Representatives from the King’s Royal Hussars shared fascinating insights into military equipment, including demonstrations and information about tanks and ammunition. Similarly, the Royal Tank Regiment provided an interactive session featuring drones and consoles, which proved particularly popular with pupils.
An especially memorable experience was the workshop delivered by the Royal Logistics Corps Bomb Disposal Unit, where pupils observed specialist robots and learned about deactivated explosives and ammunition. This session offered a safe and informative glimpse into the highly skilled and critical work undertaken by military personnel.
The day concluded with a series of powerful and inspiring talks from distinguished speakers, including the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Retired Major General Tim Hyams, Lt Col Rupert Whitelegge, and a representative from Wiltshire Council Education Services. Their messages focused on the importance of understanding and supporting service children within education, recognising the unique challenges they may face due to mobility, deployment, and the demands of military life.
At Sheldon School, we are proud to actively support our service pupils. This includes the appointment of a dedicated Service Pupil Champion and the implementation of targeted interventions and enrichment visits to ensure students feel supported both academically and pastorally. One such intervention includes an ELSA-style six-week programme delivered by the charity Veterans With Dogs, providing emotional support and promoting wellbeing for our Year 7 service pupils.
If parents or carers would like further information about how service pupils are supported at Sheldon School, please contact Mrs Avent, Service Pupil Champion, at kavent@sheldonschool.co.uk.
Overall, the event was an enriching and memorable experience, reinforcing the importance of community, resilience, and the continued support of service children both within school and as part of the wider armed forces community.