By Tracey Rumsby
During the last week of Alderman Swindell Primary School, the children worked with Izzy, Victoria and Emma of One Day Creative to produce a fantastic show for the staff, pupils and visitors.
The production featured a storyline where the children in Year 4 and 5 (Willberry Class) found a time capsule. The items that they found took us back in time with the children acting out scenes depicting Alderman Swindell Primary School and the wider community during its almost 90 year history.
It started with finding a picture of Alderman Theophilus Witter Swindell. Year 3 (Juniper Class) played out a scene telling the story of the life and career of Mr Swindell including the opening of the school in 1929.
Willberry Class then found an object relating to King George VI visiting Great Yarmouth. The Reception children in Ladybird Class gave us a scene of excited people in Great Yarmouth getting ready for his visit and waving their Union Flags as the King greeted the local people.
Willberry Class then performed a scene showing doctors checking for measles, which caused the deaths of many school aged children during the 1900's. They also explained some of the ways that people believed it could be cured at that time.
Years 1 and 2 (Owl and Raven Classes) acted out some scenes that showed the differences between schools now and schools in 1929 with girls and boys being taught separately and being taught different lessons according to their gender. Discipline was very different then too.
Juniper Class then took to the stage again to bring us a sad scene about the men in Great Yarmouth being sent to fight in World War II and how daily life continued for the rest of the residents, not knowing when or if the men would return.
Records in the early log books from Alderman Swindell School show that Alderman Swindell himself frequently visited the school following its opening in 1929. Owl and Raven Class demonstrated one such visit.
Ladybird Class demonstrated some of the leisure pursuits that became available in Great Yarmouth as it developed into the seaside town that it is today.
The finale of this amazing production was a rendition of the song "Great Place Swindell Primary School" and Willberry Class reciting the school motto:
Alderman Swindell Primary School - A safe, happy place where everybody can learn and achieve success!