Saundersfoot Pupils Tour County Hall

Children from Saundersfoot CP School learnt not just about Pembrokeshire County Council but also their own school and community in a visit to County Hall last week. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The pupils from the school council met staff from a variety of departments before enjoying a talk from Helen Evans of Pembrokeshire Archives. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Helen read the children extracts from the Saundersfoot Primary School’s log book between 1894 and 1913 which shed a fascinating light on their school at the turn of the 20th century. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

She said the book was great for helping the pupils to understand how different life was for children many years ago. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“For example, if there was very heavy rain, a lot of children didn’t go to school as there were no waterproof coats and no transport,” she said. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“They would also be kept home to help their parents with things like picking blackberries, hay-making and even cockle-picking. People were living off the land far more in those days, and it was often a case of all hands to the pump.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

She also told the children of some of the naughtier episodes documented in the log book, including how boys would sometimes escape from school to go to the races in Tenby or set off fireworks in the playground! ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Teacher Lisa Cook, who accompanied the children to County Hall with headteacher Nick Allen, said: “They were fascinated by some of the reasons why the children couldn’t go to school and the differences between education today compared with in the past.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council, Cllr Wynne Evans, who hosted their visit, praised the pupils and staff, saying: “Amazing school – lots of really good intelligent questions.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Headteacher Nick Allen said: “This was a fantastic opportunity for pupils of Saundersfoot CP School to see ‘behind the scenes’ at County Hall. Before, during and after the visit there’s been a tangible energy and excitement amongst the pupils. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The school council were inspired by all that they saw and experienced, the press department, administrative staff and the debating chamber; I would like to express my thanks to all employees who answered the pupils’ questions and took the time to speak to the children, you have inspired the next generation!” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Caption ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Pupils from Saundersfoot CP School visited County Hall this week. They are pictured with (left to right) vice-chairman Cllr Tony Brinsden, Nick Allen, Helen Evans, Lisa Cook and Cllr Wynne Evans. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​