Evacuees for the Day!

Last week's day excursion to Holdenby House, Northamptonshire, saw Year 6 Haddenham Community Junior School boys and girls donning 1940s clothing with an added gas mask box accessory, in a bid to turn into The Second World War (WW2) evacuees for the day!

Commenting on the outing, Year 6 teacher Sharon Palmer, said: "The purpose was to reinforce the pupils learning about life as an evacuee in WW2. They experienced certain activities such as 'make do and mend', cooking with rationed foods, hiding in a cellar and an Anderson Shelter with gas masks, and the types of ammunition and clothing used by WW2 soldiers."

10-year-old pupil Alfie Heafield, said: "I went on the best trip ever! I enjoyed every bit of it, but I particularly liked the kitchen! In there we listened to Mrs. North, the cook, who told us about the foods that were and were not rationed. She gave us activities to do such as cutting up vegetables, grating apples, making salt dough shapes, grating breadcrumbs and making pastry. I chopped up onions and leeks and in the war they could wear their gas masks to stop their eyes from watering!"

"Out of the whole trip, my favourite part was when I got to go in the Anderson Shelter. When I went in, it was very cold and damp and many spiders' webs were stuck to the ceiling. The Anderson shelter could hold up to 12 people. Many families could not afford an Anderson Shelter so they would come together to buy one between them," explained Year 6 pupil Amelie Luckett.