The 100th anniversary of the beginning of the First World War was commemorated by South Somerset District Council’s Heritage team recently, by holding children’s activities at Milford Hall and St Peter’s Hall in Yeovil.
Participating children really used their imagination to produce ‘trench art’, tanks, a café, love hearts and mementoes like the soldiers would have done in the trenches. Tissue poppies were made and taken home as well as decorated postcards. The children used a variety of materials to decorate the postcards and wrote messages to make someone happy. Other activities included word searches and colouring in soldiers.
Whilst writing messages on their newly decorated postcards, the children were asked what makes them happy. Answers included: friends, food, my cat, football, chocolate, the seaside and Wotsits!
Councillor Sylvia Seal, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture said, “These activities were designed for three different reasons: something for the kids to do during the school holidays, an educational activity and also to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the First World War. I’m delighted that so many children took part in the two sessions and that children as well as adults enjoyed them.
“The Heritage Lottery Fund grant has allowed us to provide a vast range of different activities to commemorate the 100th anniversary. Most of these we wouldn’t have been able to provide if our bid was not successful”.
The day was funded in part by the Heritage team’s successful Heritage Lottery Fund application. The grant of £6,400 from the HLF, awarded through the First World War: then and now programme, will focus on producing a booklet commemorating the First World War for all school children in South Somerset.