Use of RLHS Archives by Rissington School

 

In September 2025, a teacher at Rissington School approached Sue Brown, the Society’s Speakers Secretary, to ask whether the Rissingtons Local History Society held any archives that the children could use as part of their studies. The school’s theme for the term was the Second World War, with a particular focus on how the war affected daily life in the Rissingtons.

 

Our Archivist, Don Bowie, provided the school with digital copies of relevant archive material. The children studied these in class and selected items they wished to use for their presentations, working in groups of three or four.

 

On Monday 14 December 2025, members of the Society’s committee visited Rissington School (both sites) to see the results of the pupils’ work. Pupils in Years 5 and 6 presented their projects, and we enjoyed a most educational morning. There were excellent displays showing many aspects of life in the Rissingtons during the Second World War. The children had clearly undertaken a great deal of research and demonstrated impressive knowledge of their subject. Several groups even challenged us with quizzes — which, fortunately, we managed to answer correctly!

 

We came away feeling that we had learned a great deal ourselves and were delighted to see how much the children had enjoyed working with the Society’s archives.