War veteran, 102, among those honoured as school celebrates VE Day’s 80 th anniversary
A 102-year-old war veteran was among members of the local community who were honoured as a
North East school celebrated the 80 th anniversary of VE Day.
William Buddle, who joined The Army in 1942, was a VIP guest at Wolsingham School as students
took an emotional trip back in time to commemorate the anniversary and show their respects.
Mr Buddle, father of a member of the school’s catering team, inspected young members of the
school’s Combined Cadet Force after they performed an impressive drill in the school grounds.
With the school decked out in patriotic flags, students had been focusing on the anniversary during
Personal, Social, Health, and Economic lessons, and tutor group activities, including a baking
competition.
On the day of the 80th anniversary, celebrations included an old-fashioned sweet sale, traditional
playground games, and wartime music being played at breaktime.
Local residents, who were alive around the end of the war, were invited into the library as special
guests for an afternoon tea while the school orchestra played.
They were joined by representatives of local businesses, and members of the local community, who
have supported the school, which is part of the Advance Learning Partnership.
Headteacher Nick Mitchinson said: “It was a very special occasion and an opportunity to celebrate
what people did 80 years and what members of the local community do for our school now.
“We love being able to bring the generations together and this was another example of that. It was a
joy to see how the students embraced such a poignant anniversary, and showed their appreciation
for the fact that our school may not exist had it not for the sacrifices that were made eight decades
ago.”
