Coventry Kids in the Blitz

60 Year 6 children from Holbrook Primary School, Coventry and 20 children from Southfields Primary School, Coventry signed up along with their teachers for four days intensive training working under the Whissell and Williams regime.

Organised into units of 10 recruits. Under the watchful eye of the three Miss Williams, the children received a 1940s evacuation experience they will never forget culminating in an overnight evacuation at the isolated Broadwater Camp in Meriden. There they were selected by volunteer "foster" parents

The experience enhanced by sessions led by museum professionals, children and family services staff, volunteers and library professionals as well as education staff from Coventry Cathedral.

The project culminates in a documentary film to be premiered in March 2005.
PROJECT DATES
15 November - 15 December

FUNDING ORGANISATIONS:
Renaissance West Midlands
Coventry City Council
Arts Council England

 

PARTNER ORGANISATIONS:
The Herbert - including Coventry Archives
The Coventry Transport Museum
Coventry Cathedral
Children and Family Services
Coventry Libraries and Information Services
Broadwater Camp
Triangle
Southfields School
Holbrook School

24 hour Museum

Birmingham Post

  

CREDITS

Performed: Whissell, Williams, Williams, Williams and Williams:


Richard Talbot - Mr Whissell
Carran Waterfield - Mrs Williams

Hazel Barnfather - Miss H. Williams
Jo Clayton - Miss J. Williams
Rebecca O'Brien - Miss R. Williams

Mary and Les Wade - foster parents

Idea conceived by:
Richard Talbot and Carran Waterfield

Partnership staff participating:

MINISTRY OF ARTS AND HERITAGE:
Robin Johnson - Head of Operations - MOAH
Teresa Whittaker - mother of evacuee
Laura Taylor- foster parent
Clare White - foster parent
Eric Hodgkins - Captain Leigh

MINISTRY OF INTELLIGENCE
Sandra Asquith - MOI

MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT:
Steve Bagley foster parent- MOT
Julia Gandy - factory worker/WVS
Katie Snell - factory worker/WVS
Ian and Jan Johnstone - foster parents
Kiri Norris - foster parent
Soreon Hartmann- German Pilot
Colin Welch - bus driver

MINISTRY OF FAITH
Emma Griffiths MOF
Simon Monaghan
Winston Collier
Michael Coleman
William Beharrell - The Provost
Chris Rose
Sylvia Hall Randle
Simon Monaghan - The Provost
Mhari McLintock
Andrew Collier


MINISTRY OF INFORMATION
Carol Jackson
Librarians:
Lesley Martin
Ruth Jones
Natalie Rowell
Anne McFadden
June Edwards
Steve Palmer

MINISTRY OF WELFARE
Sue Bagley - MOW/foster parent
Frank Bagley
Margaret Bagley
Betty Barnett
Margaret Davoll


PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS
Vince Southcott - Holbrook Primary
Clair Henry
Daljit Nijjar
Denise Williams
Manjeet Chand
Clair Gerrard
Chandni Maru
Vince Southcott
Dawn Peckham

Lesley Moseley - Southfields School
Janet Jarvis
Liz Donkor
Julie Barnes
Sam Lockhart
Paul Tuffin

AREA OF RECEPTION
Les Alfrey - Commander Broadwater Camp/foster parent


Design
Richard Talbot and Carran Waterfield

Lighting
The Company

Music
Various 1940s

Photography
Mr Whissell and Mrs Williams
Gareth Lloyd Evans