On Wednesday the 21st May Year 4 Avocet Class from Reepham Primary School visited the Bircham Centre and the Reepham Archives.
 
Teacher, Karen Phelps, explained the children have been studying both World Wars; with the centenary of WW1 this year and knowing the Bircham Centre had played such an important role as an Auxiliary Hospital during the First World War, they wanted the children to gain more hands on experience.
 
“We have been using a Norwich Theatre Royal website, sponsored by Norfolk County Council, “To End All Wars” which takes you through the war experiences of six different characters. That highlighted that over 8000 men were sent to the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital as it was then, in the first year alone. This meant the hospital couldn’t cope and 60 Auxiliary Hospitals were set up around the County; Reepham was one of those Hospitals.”
 
The children learnt about the history of the Bircham Centre, its importance as a Red Cross Hospital and visited the Reepham Archives where they could view artefacts from both World Wars and see old photographs of Reepham. In the garden, the children sketched the building and re-enacted the Hospital with Bandaging.
 
Gill Wheatley, Administrator for the Bircham Centre said “The children have had a marvellous morning and loved seeing the Archive Rooms and old photographs. We couldn’t stop them asking lots of questions which was great. Children tend to visit the Library but don’t realise the history and other activities the Centre can offer them; a lot of the children said they would like to come back and see more of the Archive Rooms, with their parents.”
 
In June, the children will be re-enacting War time Evacuees on the Steam Train at Whitwell Station; poetry will be written on their experiences of the day. They are also dressing up as World War Two children to experience ‘Children at War’ for a day at Gressenhall Rural Life Museum.
 
The Bircham Centre, along with St Michael’s Church will be holding exhibitions on the First World War on the weekends of the weekends of the 26th July and 2nd August, to mark the Centenary of the War. Please do come along and see us, visit the Archive Rooms and take part in the history of Reepham.
 
For more information please contact Gill Wheatley on 01603 879242 or thebirchamcentre@gmail.com.