On May 8th, Willow Brook joined with the nation in marking V.E. Day’s 80th anniversary.
Our morning was spent exploring photographs, film clips and written sources that opened up the war years through the eyes of a child. We listened to Winston Churchill… watched the dancing in Trafalgar Square… saw children returned from evacuation and King George VI wave from the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
We also listened to some personal accounts of those who were there, and teachers were able to share stories of their own parents and grandparents who had unique family experiences. Everyone in school finished the morning by writing a diary of V.E. Day and the children sang a moving version of The White Cliffs of Dover.
During the afternoon, everyone contributed to the commemorative bunting that decorated the front playground ready for home time. We have celebrated coronations and jubilees over recent years with street parties and revelry, but felt that V.E. Day warranted a mix of education, remembrance and gratitude – our main aim was to ensure that the important messages of the day were carried forward and passed on to the next generation.
