Genes Reunited War Memorial Competition

Genes Reunited War Memorial competition announced its winners yesterday. Schools were invited to construct a war memorial honouring those from their district who fell in World War I, 1914-18.

The winners were:

Primary: Sparsholt C of E Primary School Winchester

Secondary: Perins Community Sports College, Hants

http://www.perins.net/ (gives names of winners)

One girl (Laura Moseley) produced her own World War I memorial website: http://remeberthesoldiers.webs.com/

The delighted children of Sparsholt Church of England Primary School have scooped the £500 top prize in a prestigious region-wide history and ICT competition.

Guided by their teacher, Mrs Lynn Laver, Class 4 designed, researched and built an inspirational and innovative war memorial to win the Genes Reunited ‘Remembering Our Local Heroes' War Memorial Competition. Head teacher, Stephen Young, said, "I am extremely proud for the whole school, and thrilled that the inspiration and hard work of the children and their teacher been recognised in so generous a manner."

The competition, endorsed by the Historical Association, invited schools to take names of those killed in the Great War from a local war memorial, research these individuals for free on the Genes Reunited website, and produce a modern-style memorial that revealed the faces behind the names. Dozens of schools from Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex, Southampton, Portsmouth, Brighton and Hove entered in either the primary or secondary category.

Class 4's winning entry comprises a colourful column of open boxes, each containing accurate details of a member of the community who died in the 1914-18 ‘war to end all wars.' Some boxes even have tiny and beautifully observed representations of aspects of their subject's life.

Year 5 pupils Emily Hallett and Sam Thwait said that working on the project was one the best things they had done all year. "It was really enjoyable," said Emily. "I learned so much about what went on a hundred years ago. I loved researching on the internet." Sam agreed. "I'd like to have another go next year," he smiled.

Awarding the prize cheque at a special Remembrance Day ceremony in Sparsholt, Genes Reunited's Rhoda Breakell said, "The entry from Sparsholt really stood out from the many other primary school entries. Because of its attention to detail and powerful imaginative content, the judges found it genuinely moving. The children are to be thoroughly congratulated."