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Friday 4th May
Oswestry School 600 Event
'1407 And All That' Literary and History Festival at Oswestry School with Michael Morpurgo OBE
At 9.30am today, nearly 200 8-12 year olds filled the PHC to capacity. Years 3 and 4 from Bellan House together with guests from neighbouring schools (The Marches and The Meadows, Morda, Trefonen, Llansilin and Ruyton XI Towns primary schools) joined our pupils from Year 5-7.
The day began with a talk from a figure in a long gown (looking remarkably like our own Mr Chris Symons, retired Latin teacher) who declared that he had been teaching at
The next talk was from Michael Morpurgo, one of the country's most successful children's authors and Children's Laureate from 2003-5. When the audience was asked if they had read his books a forest of arms shot up. The audience, children and staff alike, sat enthralled by this natural story teller and entertainer as he told them about historical legends and how he used them in his books. Michael was asked so many questions about his writing that the session ran over time. Finally, he was presented with a cheque for £258.41 raised by the school for the charity ‘Farms for City Children’ which was founded by Michael and his wife Clare. Actor and historian, Robert Hardy, who had arrived early for his evening lecture on the history of the longbow, sat unnoticed at the side of the PHC and enjoyed Michael’s talk along with the rest of us. It was at least another hour before Michael finished signing books in the PHC foyer afterwards!
Before lunch, the three winners of our ‘Gargoyles’ Art Competition were announced. Pupils from Years 5, 6 and 7 had been invited to create a 21st Century piece of artwork based on the idea of gargoyles. The winners, Natasha Williams, Matthew Masters and Lewis Bebb, received their prizes of art sets and Michael Morpurgo books, signed by the author.
For lunch there was a mass picnic on the hill outside the PHC. At 1pm, Years 8 and 9, who had been listening to talks from local author, Pauline Fisk, in the library during the morning, joined the group. The area behind the
Inside the PHC, the afternoon continued with a talk by local history expert Kevin Goodman on medieval relationships between the English and the Welsh, Owain Glyndwr and the Battle of Shrewsbury in 1403, shortly before the foundation of the school. The audience was given a lasting impression of the efficiency of archers who could make the sky black with arrows and the grossness of a battle field filled with dead and dying soldiers and horses. Kevin finished his talk with a display of weaponry and a gruesome demonstration of how an arrowhead was removed from Prince Hal's head after the battle.
Outside, expert archer Roger Richards showed pupils both long and cross bows and demonstrated what powerful and accurate weapons these could be. Roger’s wife showed medieval handicrafts. Roger Fryer–Sevens and his son showed two hawks to pupils and talked about how birds of prey were used for hunting by medieval nobles. The Lady Alice (Parker!) and medieval matron Mistress Scott (mother of Tommy in Year 8) modelled medieval costumes. Staff members Mr Arnott and Mr Price and Elliott Dyke and Alun Morris from the sixth form, gallantly endured a very cold and wet session in the stocks to the huge amusement of the pupils! Monies raised from the stocks and the sale of ice creams on the afternoon will also be sent to ‘Farms for City Children’.
This was an outstanding day and very much achieved its purpose which was to bring history alive for our younger pupils. We all became more aware of the incredible length of time that the school has been educating the young people of Oswestry. It was an enormous team effort which involved teachers, sixth formers, parents and governors together with secretarial, bursarial, maintenance and kitchen staff. Many thanks to all concerned!
Arabella Gonzalez
School Librarian and Event Organiser