Oh what a lovely war we’ve enjoyed

GOOD OLD DAYS . . . Teacher Bill (“Churchill”) Thomas — complete with dummy cigar — is pictured with some of the children of Christ Church Primary School in Denshaw, enjoying a wartime topic

Children at Oldham’s smallest school — Christ Church Primary in Denshaw —packed up their troubles in their old school bags and really did smile, smile, smile. . .

Dressed in 1940s’-style clothes, some carrying replica gas mask boxes, the pupils aged between seven and 11 enjoyed a VE Day celebration to highlight a topic of the war years.

They sang songs like “Run Rabbit Run” and “The White Cliffs of Dover”, before tucking into a spread of wartime rations.

There were sandwiches made with spam, meat paste, corned beef and jam; jelly, cow biscuits, cupcakes, home-made lemonade and tea.

They played wartime games including tiddlywinks, Wallie, cats cradle and marbles and staged dance performances, evacuation plays and a fashion show.

Earlier, the children produced colourful montages of tin hats and air raid shelters, and posters showing the harsh reality of Britain at war.

As an introduction to the topic, they visited Stockport air raid shelters and learned what life was like as an evacuee.

Headteacher Sue Callaghan and teacher Bill Thomas began researching the project in the summer. She said: “The children really immersed themselves in the idea.

“They even sampled wartime rations including sugar sandwiches. It gave them a real insight into life in the 1940s.”

Mr Thomas, who dressed as wartime prime minister Winston Churchill, sporting a dummy cigar, said: “It’s been a terrific experience. The children have been fascinated. The project has been a great success.”

Earlier, the school had been visited by members of the Saddleworth Royal British Legion who gave graphic details of life in wartime Britain.

School secretary Mary Rodgers said: “The children found the subject fascinating and have produced excellent pieces of work. Resource boxes from Gallery Oldham provided primary evidence and also proved very useful.”