Guestling pupils relive evacuation

A spokesperson for the school said: “Form 1’s visit to Tenterden Station, part of their study of WW2 evacuees, was a great success. Pupils and staff were dressed as evacuees with their own gas mask box and evacuee label.

“Even the staff got into the spirit of the day as a moustachioed Mr Baker dressed in a very dapper 1940s pinstripe and Mr Lucas as Sergeant Wilson from Dad’s Army.

“The pupils found out first hand what it was like to be an evacuee with members of the Medway Evacuee Reunion Group and the National Evacuee Reunion Association providing real-life evacuees to travel on the steam train journey to Northiam whilst recounting their stories. Some related how they never forgave their parents for not coming with them. “The experience has been developed with the support of the South East Grid for Learning. It links closely with the teaching suggestions outlined in the QCA scheme of work for a range of subjects including English and History. “During the return journey an Air Raid Warden ran along the train telling the evacuees (pupils) that they might be under air attack and, should it be necessary, everyone would have to hide under the tables in the carriage.

“Later, the pupils met a real ‘spiv’ and were able to buy black market goods including cigarettes and chocolate. However he soon found himself in direct competition with Buckswood’s own ‘spiv’, Mr Baker.”