High Weald Academy L-R Mr Swash (PFP Project Manager) Mrs Beech (Principle) holding the Peace Fields Poppy Ball, Mr Welch and Mr Wilkinson.
Making History
Wednesday 29th June, 2016
Primary Schools visit HWA Memorial Garden
The High Weald Academy, Peace Fields Project ceremony was attended by over 800 participants from local primary schools, staff, volunteers, supporters and distinguish guests.
Emily, a pupil at HWA, said, ‘It was a special day and one I think all of us will remember for a very long time.
Peace Field Project Students with Mr Swash, HWA, PFP Manager.
Guest speaker Ernie Brennan, Managing Director, NCFA, said, ‘This was an excellent event which HWA can be very proud of.’ ‘HWA’s peace field will stand forever linked with one of the world’s most famous fields where a humanitarian act is forever remembered’
Ernie Brennan, Managing Director, NCFA, talked about the importance of commemoration and celebrating peace
Mrs Beech, HWA, Headteacher, signed a Declaration of Peace which will be displayed at the school and a duplicate HWA, PFP, plaque will be displayed in Flanders, site of the 1914, Christmas Truces.
Mrs Beech, said, ‘
L-R. Mrs Beech, HWA Head Teacher signs the Declaration for Peace with Mr Brennan, NCFA.
Mrs Meredith, Head of Learning and Events, Maidstone Museum, said, ‘The High Weald Academy students created a superb exhibition of project work and they can be proud of staging a very successful twinning ceremony’.
HWA Exhibition featured work from their local Primary Link Schools
The opening ceremony started with HWA’s pupils from the Cranbrook Army Cadets. They led the dignitaries into the main sports hall where the plaque that twins HWA’s playing fields with Flanders Peace Field was unveiled.
High Weald Academy’s Peace Field Project Plaque
A dedication ceremony led by Reverend Ann Pollington set the scene for peace and harmony.
Reverend Ann Pollington
All the primary school pupils and teachers played their part in paying respect to the war dead in the impeccably observed playing of The Last Post.
Cranbrook’s Army Cadets
A reading by Louglin Cooper Year 12 student, ‘In Flanders Fields’ by John McCrae, added to the ceremony’s poignant atmosphere.
The perfect reading of, ‘In Flanders Fields by John McCrae, 1915.
Primary school pupils visited HWA’s garden of remembrance and sowed poppy seeds around their respective school’s cross of remembrance.
Primary School Children sow poppy seeds for peace
It was clear to see that the games activities were enjoyed by all the primary school children and played in the spirit of the Peace Field Project.
The Peace Games
Tug of War
Football Rounders
Pupils took part in team building activities (supervised by staff and with HWA Sports Leaders) which included The War Horse exhibition at the HWA Farm.
HWA’s very own horse, George.
Twinning Ceremony Programme
Peace Day Celebration Programme (Download here)
Wednesday 29th June 2016
12:20 Arrival of visitors
12:30 Assemble in the Sports Hall
12.30 Royal British Legion Standard together with HWA
Army Cadets who lead in our dignitaries
12.35 Welcome Address by Carrie Beech – Principal
Speech by Ernie Brennan [NCFA]
12.45 Dedication ceremony led by Reverend Ann Pollington
12.50 Reading by Loughlin Cooper Year 12 student
In Flanders Fields by John McCrae, 1915 [see over]
The Last Post
Signing of the Peace Field Declaration
Unveiling the Peace Fields Plaque
13.00 Pupils take part in sports and teambuilding activities
[supervised by staff and with HWA Sports Leaders]
Includes War Horse exhibition at the High Weald Farm
13.00 Two selected students from each primary school
scatter poppy seeds in the school’s poppy garden
VIPs in attendance
Followed by refreshments for VIPs in the Sports Hall
Radio/press Interviews with key staff and project pupils
14:30 Refreshments for all students before departure
[Sports Hall]
14:45 All primary students depart High Weald Academy
In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
John McCrae, 1915
Thank you to:
- Cranbrook Museum who supplied the poppy fields for this event and for their exhibition items
- Ivor Hatcher and Mr Cooper who put on the War Horse exhibition on the farm and allowed George to be included in our event.
- All of the heads of the local primary schools who allowed their students to take part today
- Thank you to Benenden Primary for allowing your school to pilot this project
- The Royal British Legion – for coming along to support us today
- Reverend Ann Pollington for conducting the service
- The NCFA for allowing our school to be the Hub school for the Peace Fields project
- Maidstone Museum for hosting a visit by our students
- University of Kent – visit attended by our students
Peace Fields Sport Plan
Peace Fields Press Release
Living History
What the pupils said
‘I feel that I will never forget how war started’. Dressing up as a soldier give me a feel of what it is like’. I learnt how hard it was on the front lines’. ‘I learnt about what the soldiers carried to war’. ‘I enjoyed watching people get dressed up because their reactions were funny’. ‘I learnt how the war effort recruited soldiers from different class backgrounds’. ‘Fascinating’. ‘It was fun’. ‘I was shocked to hear about the ages of the boys that joined’. ‘Lots of people were very brave to give their lives and help others for their country’. I learnt what the soldiers got sent when they were at war’.
Gateways to the First World War
Lecture by Dr Emma Hannah
At University of Kent
High Weald Academy attended the Gateways to the First World War lecture given by Dr Emma Hannah. The lecture was an important part of the school’s Peace Fields Project. Students will use their notes to help research and compile an exhibition of their work which will be displayed at their Peace Field twinning ceremony in June 2016.
Kent County Council’s, Libraries, Registration and Archives.
High Weald Academy hosted the first Peace Fields Project workshop facilitated by the NCFA and Kent County Councils, Libraries, Registration and Archives. The workshop introduced the PFP and looked at how to research First World War One history in the community. Mr Swash, Project Manager, said, ‘The pupils enjoyed the session and there is now a lot of good ideas about to be put into action’.
Mr Burchill with students from HWA before attending War Horse, London
These questions were given to the participants before they started their projects.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE FIRST WORLD WAR?
‘That the Germans and the English played football together and then after they shot each other’
R Brewin. Age 12
‘I know that the First World War started in 1914 and ended in 1918. I also know that the men stayed in trenches which were very small and also that the women stayed at home to work and they also nursed the wounded soldiers’
Anonymous. Age 15
‘There was a truce in one section. The English and German troops sang and played football at Christmas’
C Fitzpatrick. Age 14
‘Only Christmas day the Germans started to sing Silent Night and the English then joined in they put the white flag up and went and played football in No Man’s Land’
K Burniston. Age 12
WOULD YOU GO TO WAR FOR YOUR COUNTRY, IF SO WHY AND IF NOT, WHY NOT?
‘I would go to war for my country because I would want to save our country but I am a girl so I couldn’t go to war’
K Scott. Age 14
‘I wouldn’t because I wouldn’t want to leave my family and I would want to help provide for my family. I wouldn’t be able to stay far away for a long period of time and not know if I would ever see them again’
C L Woodman. Age 14.
‘NO, because I would have a better chance of survival’
S Price. Age 11.
‘No, as I would stay at home making the munitions etc, in the factories so that they had something to fight with – or I would be a nurse who helped the wounded soldiers’
Anonymous. Age 15
WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO PREVENT ANOTHER WORLD WAR EVER HAPPENING AGAIN?
‘I would try and solve the problem without war. The leaders would try and solve the problem without war. The leaders of the War would have to peacefully talk and if necessary they could have a controlled fight between themselves (last resort) instead of endangering innocent lives’
C Fitzpatrick. Age 14
‘I would make sure people were not racist’
K Burniston. Age 12
‘Try not to course any trouble and try to sort out trouble if there is’
K Scott. Age 14
‘Try to sort out any problems before it got big enough for a war’
Z Plunkett. Age 15
‘Not cause any trouble with anyone and try to prevent any arguments’
M McRae. Age 15