Back to the Blitz

Story by Katie Hobson Back in March, children from Whiteways and Owler Brook schools learned about the hardships of life during the Sheffield Blitz which killed over 2,000 people in December 1940. The pupils had the chance to take part in ‘Blitzed’ living history classes delivered by Jenny Bland and The History Van, who believe it is important for pupils to explore the life changing dilemmas and challenges of the Blitz. The program was created to remember the 75th anniversary of the Blitz that made nearly a tenth of Sheffield’s population homeless. Jenny said it was particularly important in the Grimesthorpe area because it was badly bombed during World War 2. The project allowed students to have the chance to learn to use stirrup pumps for putting out fires and deciding on what to do with a family pet if an air raid were to occur. Teachers from Whiteways primary school said that the children haven’t stopped talking about the day and have produced some lovely work.