Left, Mr Gregory, Herne Bay High School’s PFP Project Manager and right, Mr Brennan PFP Director with the Peace Field Poppy Ball.
Making History
Tuesday 28th June, 2016
Herne Bay High School, Peace Fields Project ceremony was attended by over 600 participants from local primary schools, staff, volunteers, supporters and distinguish guests. Special guest Colin Farley, Founder Member of The National Children’s Football Alliance, said, ‘The Herne Bay High School, Peace Fields Project Exhibition was superb’ ‘It was a credit to pupils and staff especially the work done by Ellis Yeatman on the First World War soldier Harry Wells’
Herne Bay High School Peace Fields Project Exhibition
Dr Owen, Principal of Herne Bay High School, said, ‘The Peace Fields Project has benefited our students and produced high standards or work, I know our staff have enjoyed it too’. ‘Herne Bay High School are very proud to have our playing field twinned Flanders Peace Field’
Dr Owen, HBHS Principal, signs the Declaration of Peace along with Colin Farley, Founder Member of the National Children’s Football Alliance
Special guests the Mayor and Lady Mayoress, both commented on a wonderfully observed Last Post where many of the young primary schools’ participants experienced the ceremony for the first ever time.
Minutes silence at Herne Bay High School’s Peace Fields Project Twinning Ceremony
Rosalind Meredith, Learning and Events Officer at Maidstone Museum, said, ‘The ceremony was very moving and all the pupils respect was impeccable’.
Standard Flag Bearer
Reading of Capt. Dougan’s letter and a reading of The Game; Christmas 1914 Poem, by year 9 students added to the occasion. Words by Rev Anthony summed up the importance of peace through play, games and sport, ‘Footballs brings us all together today and just like it did in 1914’.
Mixed gender, and mixed ability teams take part in the first Peace Tournament played in the spirit of the 1914 Christmas Truces.
Primary Schools participate in the HBHS Gun Run
All primary schools were presented with a Peace Poppy Ball to take back to their respective schools and create their own Peace Field.
Herne Bay High School present their primary school guests with a Peace Poppy Ball so they can now go ahead and create their peace field.
Twinning Ceremony Programme
Living History
The inspection.
What the pupils said
‘I got to hold the weapons used be soldiers in the First World War’. ‘It was interactive and was very fun’. ‘It was very good how they told the story during a play’. ‘Every pupil was involved’. ‘It involved everyone, it was funny and interesting’. ‘It was practical’. ‘It was presented very well’. ‘It was very well put together, fun and informative’. It got us all involved’. ‘It was very enjoyable’. ‘I learnt a lot of interesting facts’. ‘It was really fun to watch’. ‘It wasn’t boring and they got us all involved’. ‘Interactive and interesting’.
Gateways to the First World War
Lecture by Dr Emma Hannah
At University of Kent
Herne Bay High School attended the Gateways to the First World War lecture given by Dr Emma Hannah. Herne Bay High School were awarded for their exemplary input at the lecture. Pupil S Eissens collected the award on behalf of her school she said, ‘the lecture was very interesting and the whole school is looking forward to twinning with Flanders Peace Field’
Kent County Council’s, Registration, Libraries and Archives
Herne Bay High School (HBHS) kicked off their Peace Field Project (PFP) with a workshop given by the NCFA and the Kent County Council’s Libraries, Registration and Archives. The pupils were introduced to the PFP and how they can research the First World War in their home town of Herne Bay. HBHS, Project Manager, Mr Gregory, said, ‘The workshop helped pupils to consider a number of areas to research. All the pupils took part in the tasks set by Libraries, Registration and Archives Officer, Mr Illingworth. It was an enjoyable workshop and one that sets up the project for the pupils to get start their research.
These questions were given to the participants before they started their projects.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE FIRST WORLD WAR?
‘I know it was called ‘The War To End all Wars’
‘I also know there was a Christmas Truce where the German soldiers and the British soldiers played a game of football’
C Evans. Age 13
‘nothing much except I know it started in 1914 and ended 1918’
C Gibson. Age 13
‘I know that we commemorate the First World War with poppies on the 11th November and we have a minute silence’
K Ashenden. Age 14
‘I know there was a lot of devastation’
T Walker. Age 13
WOULD YOU GO TO WAR FOR YOUR COUNTRY, IF SO WHY AND IF NOT, WHY NOT?
‘I would not go to war as I know that many people have to die fighting I also know that I would have to kill people’
N Alexander. Age 13
‘No because I think there are other ways problems can be solved’
M Abbatt. Age 14.
‘If I was forced to then I would, but if I had a choice then I wouldn’t because I don’t like to leave my family for ages’
Z Wallace. Age 13.
‘No I wouldn’t as I would stay at home and look after my family. I would help people from home’
J Clark. Age 14
WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO PREVENT ANOTHER WORLD WAR EVER HAPPENING AGAIN?
‘I would try and make the countries talk about their problems to resolve it peacefully.’
M Abbott. Age 14
‘To prevent war again I would rise the amount of education in schools about the world wars to show all of the peoples who have been killed and also the amount of suffering it caused their families and friends’
N Alexander. Age 13
‘I would do my best to make sure that people never forget the devastation of the war, the lives it destroyed and the buildings it destroyed’
T Walker. Age 13
‘I would make country leaders talk about the issue with today’s society we as humans should be able to talk without fighting’
K Ashenden. Age 14
‘Negotiating and talking about problems between countries would contribute to stopping world wars’
R Skeats. Age 14