In June 1940, schools from Southampton and Portsmouth were evacuated to safe areas, such as Milford, away from the effects of the Blitz bombings.74 years later we tried to get a sense of what it may have been like to have been part of Operation Pied Piper through enjoying a Living History Day.

During the morning we undertook workshops linked to the 'evacuation experience' and then in the afternoon we  evacuated the children down to the village green, before moving onto the church hall to meet some local residents with first-hand experience of evacuation.

A huge thank you to Mr Hobby for organising the speakers and for being a font of knowledge about Milford during the war and many thanks to all three of the speakers, who entertained us with tales of searching for shrapnel, watching dog-fights and enjoying the freedom that the war-time countryside afforded them.

Finally, thank you to all the staff and adult helpers, whose costumes and enthusiasm helped to make the day special.