Tuesday, June 02, 2009

Tidemill School History Project

(1943 school concert programme - click to enlarge)


Pupils from Tidemill Primary School in Deptford have been involved in an oral history project, exploring the history of their school. Some of this is currently displayed in Deptford Library (Wavelengths). The most evocative image for me is the programme from a 1943 school concert, a time when the Frankham Street School (as Tidemill was then called) was evacuated to Robeston Wathen in Pembrokeshire.

As a parent who has sat through many school concerts, including countless versions of modern uplifting ballads like 'Something inside so strong', it was interesting to see what a performance from the Second World War period might include. This concert included country dancing, poems and songs included 'Whistle while you work', 'The Lass with the Delicate Air', 'Glad that I live am I' and a closing 'National Anthem'.

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