Pupils commemorate war’s end

AHEAD of the centenary of the end of the First World War, children from a Cardiff primary school have been working with older members of the community and Cardiff Libraries Service to explore and commemorate people from their area who fought for their country from 1914-18.

Pupils from St Monica’s Church in Wales Primary School in Cathays have worked with Pentyrch Street Baptist Church, The Table, and Cathays Branch and Heritage Library to trace the history of individuals whose names are listed on a memorial plaque in the church.

The intergenerational project – Greater Love: Research, Reflect, Remember, has involved Year 5 pupils embarking on their own mini “Who do you think you are?” investigations using the Heritage Library collection at Cathays to find out about the lives of those featured on the plaque.

With access to resources, from old public records to photographs and maps, and the expertise available at the Heritage Library, the pupils uncovered facts including family trees, addresses and jobs to compile biographies of their subjects.

They also composed poems about the Great War and designed medals.

Older members of the community shared their memories of the local area with the children and told them their experiences of what it was like to live in the city after the end of the Second World War.

An exhibition of work done during the project will be on show at Cathays Library until November 17.