We always have lots of fun in our History club…one of the best things about it is that the children choose the topic every week…not necessarily themes that are normally covered in our curriculum, but subjects in which they are especially interested. However, one of the most popular talking points is World War 2 and the events that were part of it. We spent the first part of club tonight discussing the emotions felt after the announcement of the end of the conflict. We proudly gave the iconic ‘V for Victory’ sign in front of our corridor display tonight. A sign made famous by the then Prime Minister, Winston Churchill as he appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with King George VI, Queen Elizabeth and the Princesses Elizabeth and Margret to commemorate the end of the fighting in Europe.

As well as having the honour to take part in the VE Day 80th anniversary service in Thorne Park last week, we were also graced with a visit from Mr and Mrs Miller of the Royal British Legion this Monday, who came to admire our wonderful corridor display. We had tried to convey the joy of that day so long ago by recreating a street party, and we tried to think about the emotions felt by the British people as they celebrated the end of the conflict in Europe.

Historic, jubilant, commemorative, celebratory, moving, triumphant, and hopeful…all of these feelings and more.

Thankfully, our children’s generation have never had the reason to feel these emotions for this reason…and hopefully learning about them will ensure that they will never have to…

But to everyone who lived through these life changing times….We thank you for your service x

On this day 80 years ago, thousands of troops from 13 different countries took part in Operation Neptune, otherwise known as D Day. This morning, Green Top children from all year groups learned of the courageous actions of the brave men and women who played a part in the Allied operation that launched the successful defeat of Nazis in occupied Western Europe during World War II. Reception children produced Union Flag bunting, Y1 made the parachutes of the soldiers who were dropped over the enemy lines the previous evening to capture roads and bridges, cutting off the supply lines to the German defences and Y2 created silhouettes of the planes that provided air cover for the invasion and the barrage balloons that protected the Allied troops from air strikes. Years 3 and 4 produced fact files of the key facts of the operation, Y5 wrote thoughtful diary entries from the points of view of soldiers from both sides of the conflict as well as their families, and Y6 created beautiful art work depicting the sacrifices made by the soldiers.

All of this work will be collated into a display in school by the History Club, helping to ensure that we will never forget the heavy price that was paid all those years ago for our freedom.