St John's College pupils step back in time as they dress to impress for VE Day anniversary
A CITY school hosted its own virtual celebration of VE Day by inviting pupils to ‘dress for the occasion’.
Pupils attending St John’s College submitted their patriotic poses to be displayed on the schools Facebook page. While many children chose to send photographs of themselves draped in the Union Jack, one brother and sister caught the eye with their wartime period costumes.
Zahra Rad, nine, and brother, Ronnie, five, dressed in typical 1940s attire with the colours red, white and blue to recognise the landmark event.
Zahra said: ‘It was a lot of fun dressing up in the costume. It’s important to remember these people who were trying to save our country.’
While Zahra already had a costume due to her involvement in the retro group, Timeless, mum, Joanne Philpott, 44, had to create Ronnie’s costume by stitching together a red, white and blue tie, accompanied with an old waistcoat worn at a family wedding.
Joanne, who also works as a music teacher at the school, said: ‘Despite being in lockdown we wanted to do something as a school to mark the event. It’s very important to remember the sacrifices made by past generations.
‘My grandmother told me about being evacuated to Petersfield during the war. She remembered tears running down her face as she sat on the train. It’s important I pass these stories on to my own children.’
Zahra is due to perform in front of her neighbours as part of the street’s VE Day celebrations.
‘I’m going to be singing We’ll Meet Again by Dame Vera Lynn,’ she said.