School Projects
As part of The Great War 2014 Centenary commemorations Deanshanger Village Heritage Society joined as a partner in the Great War MK project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. A grant enabled us to undertake heritage and art works based on historical material with Deanshanger Primary School.
The arts and heritage project included commissioning local artist, Yvonne Bell, to work with pupils of the School. They used historical research to design and produce a triptych (3 panel) silk painting entitled ‘Flanders Field’ it was undertaken by six pupils from across the years and is based on views of a trench that soldiers might have had.
"Before the Great War"
Peaceful fields and birds
Painted by
Years One and Two
Hannah
Molly Alexander
Matilda Lantsberg
"The Start of War"
Digging the trenches
Painted by
Years Three and Four
Charlie Walker
Ewan Higgins
Caltlin Cater
Claudio Primonato
"Guns to hand"
No More Smiles
Painted by
Years Five and Six
Brooke Gess
Luke Whitburn
Maddie Jenner
Jessica Porter
The entire school was involved in another art project - pupils designed and produced works in a variety of mediums on a theme of ‘A Postcard from the Trenches’ with amazing interpretations and results. The works were put on display for the village at The DVHS Feast 2014 in the school grounds to great acclaim.
DVHS gave a presentation about the village and the effects of the War on villagers during this period to the whole School. For Years 5 and 6 pupils studying the subject as part of the Curriculum a more detailed presentation was made with question and answer sessions with pupils posing some really interesting questions. Year 6 were then given a guided tour of the village looking at some of the buildings and streets that existed at the time, for which many pupils had dressed in 'period' costume.