Projects
2015 - Rememberance Day
0n 11th November we held our annual Remembrance Day which was as always a marvellous occasion. Last year we used the inspiration of the Tower of London poppies to create our own cascading poppies coming down the stairs of Upper School. This year to mark the 100 years since 1915 we chose those who died in that year as our inspiration. A template of a Commonwealth gravestone was produced and each form was given a list of names of those who died, copying out each name onto a gravestone. These were then attached to a net and once more cascaded down the stairs and adorned doorways in Upper School entrance hall.
On the day itself we were privileged to be joined by veterans for The Korean War, the Royal Airforce Association and the Suez Canal Zoners. We also had a small group of pupils from Kings Heath Primary who interviewed the veterans for their newspaper. Just before 11 am we all trooped outside. The grass was surrounded by near the whole school who stood in silence as the veterans took their place in the centre and stood to attention during the two minutes silence. As always it was a very moving occasion and the veterans were warmly applauded as they left the grass.
2014-2015 - We lie here not in a Foreign Field
July 2014 I wrote a play performed at Brandwood End Cemetery as part of their First World War day. The play was done as a series of monologues based on some of the men who are buried or remembered at the cemetery.
We lie here not in a foreign field
2014-2015 - Dementia
In July 2012 we were very fortunate to be involved in the Prime Minister's Challenge on Dementia. This resulted in us being chosen as one of 21 schools across the country to pilot dementia lessons to measure the impact on pupils.
Dementia revisited
Dementia revisited
Helping those living with dementia - Fact Sheet
Helping those living with dementia
Lesson 2 - Helping those living with dementia worksheet
Meeting those working and living with dementia questions
Meeting those working and living with dementia
Understanding dementia
Understanding dementia
Us on BBC News November 2012
What is Dementia Factsheet
When we get old
2014-2015 - Remembrance Day
On 11 November I organised our annual Remembrance Day with about 30 veterans joining us and an entertainment with dance, a play and a performance of the Last Post.
We also served
2014-2015 - Communication in the First World War
December 2014 I delivered an afternoon session at Bournville Infant School
bairnsfather 1
bairnsfather 2
Bournville School
Field Postcard
Morse code
Semaphore
2014-2015 - Kings Heath Baptist War Dead
December 2014 I did a talk for the University of the Third Age Moseley Group at Kings Heath
University of the Third Age Moseley Group at Kings Heath 18
2014-2015 - Gallipoli
On the 25 April 2015, the anniversary of the Allied landings at Gallipoli, I spent most of the day in Sainsburys, Kings Heath, Birmingham, selling ANZAC biscuits. On the night I gave a talk on Gallipoli, as part of a First World War evening, at All Saints Church, Kings Heath. I summarised the events around the Gallipoli Campaign and also looked at those from the local area who died in the campaign.
A foriegn field watered with blood
A foriegnn field watered with blood
Gallipoli-1
Gallipoli
2014-2015 - The Belbroughton Braves Revisited
January 2015 this was the second of a series of talks delivered to the Belbroughton History Society. This time I concentrated on the people in the village now and their relatives who died in the First World War.
2014-2015 - Dame Elizabeth Cadbury School
April/May 2015 I taught two examination groups in Year 10 and 11 who had lost their teachers at Easter. The topics were Medicine through Time and Germany 1918-45.
2014-2015 - 8th Annual Veterans Day
A day organised by me and Steve McCabe MP.
2014-2015 - Crich Tramway Museum
In July 2015 I did two talks in two days at the museum during their First World War week. The first talk was on the Birmingham Tramways during the First World War and second on the Birmingham Tramways War Memorial.
The Birmingham Tramways in the First World War
The Birmingham tramways war memorial
2014-2015 - Hobby Horse Race
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I am a member of the Kings Heath and Moseley Muscular Dystrophy Group. In May I organised a Horse Race at Worcester Racecourse and we raised over £2,500 for the charity.
2014 - The death of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand
2013 - Death of Emily Wilding Davidson
2012 - Sinking of the Titanic
Planned for 2015/2016
- I am supporting the People's Heritage Co-operative with their project 'Untold stories: Birmingham's wounded soldiers from WW1'
- I will be a Royal British Legion ambassador and go into schools to tell pupils about the work of the legion and the First and Second World Wars.
- February 2016 – I will be delivering the third talk for the Belbroughton History Society, this time looking at 1916 on the Home Front in North Worcestershire.
