Success for local school

We are very pleased to announce that we have been working closely with Orleans Park Secondary School in Twickenham as part of a WFA-sponsored First World War project. The school registered to take part in the WFA Malcolm Doolin Memorial Award. This is an annual competition in which schools across the country are paired with a local Western Front Association branches. The schools then undertake a school-based First World War project.

Students at Orleans Park School worked with James, our committee member, to produce a project exploring the war experiences of Belgian refugees within East Twickenham. As some of you will know, a significant Belgian refugee community formed around Twickenham and St Margarets during the First World War. This was particularly centred around the riverside Belgian munitions factory created by Frenchman Charles Pelabon. At its height, the Pelabon Works employed nearly 2000 factory workers, mostly displaced Belgian refugees and a significant proportion of them were women. Towards the war’s end the community of refugees exceeded 6000 people. Students worked incredibly hard on their research, including visiting the Richmond Local Studies Library and meeting with local expert Dr Helen Baker.

The final project took the form of a video and presentation. This was submitted to the WFA at the end of June and was awarded a second place prize after judging took place in July. Many congratulations to all the students who took part, as well as to teacher Trevor Jones, the school’s joint-head of English, who oversaw the project. It is hoped that the certificate will be presented to the students and staff by members of our branch committee at a forthcoming school assembly. The school also receives a prize of £250.

More information about this annual competition can be found HERE.