Pupils dig in

STUDENTS from Tideway School went back to the trenches this week.

A workforce of 70 students, aged 11 to 15, built a trench on school grounds after being inspired by the trenches in Belgium and France as well as in a recent BBC programme.

Jim Fanning, history and IT teacher at the school, co-ordinated the build. He said: 'A lot of the students went to see the trenches abroad and they also helped build the trench at Newhaven Fort last year.

'Following that and seeing a programme on trenches on television, we decided it would be a good activity for the pupils to do.

'We had an amazing response and 70 kids have joined us to make the trench. It was originally 50 pupils, but this has been surprisingly popular.

'The trench is going to take a week to build. On Monday the weather was so awful that we stopped about three hours into it.

'The pupils were great, though, not one of them complained. They all just got on with it and mucked in, I was quite surprised.'

A decision hasn't been made as to what to do with the trench once it is finished, but Jim has some ideas.

He said: 'We're looking into fencing it off and not filling it back in again.

'The students in Year Nine next year will be studying the First World War, so they will find it useful to see what a real trench is like.

'I dare say the media students would also be able to find a use for it!'

Jim contacted Radio 2 presenter Sarah Kennedy and told her what they were planning to do.

She was so caught up in the idea the trench has received publicity across the nation, so Jim and the pupils have decided to call part of the trench 'Kennedy's Corner'.

Another part of it may be named after one of the Year Nine students who has been working on it but who is moving out of the area soon.

Today (Friday) is meant to be the official opening of the trench and, weather permitting, there will be a celebratory barbecue for all those who were involved.