Free For All in Chester

One of our memories from Chester Cathedral will be the wonderful way in which we were looked after!  Claire Chatterton, the Education Officer to the Cathedral ensured the team were provided with teas and coffees throughout the day (always a bonus in Dan's eyes!)

Pupils from three schools (The Firs, St Thomas' CofE Primary and Ysgol Bryan Alan School) entered the ancient building to relive the horrific days of the Slave Trade.  And it was here, in the Cathedral, that history was made - for the first time on our tour, pupils choose peace instead of war!

Dan's attempt to show how the British divided and ruled over African tribes over two hundred years ago involved him trying to do deals with two pupils, who took the roles of African chiefs.

Offering them free gifts of silk, trinkets and guns if they would deliver Africans from other tribes into his hands - two pupils declined and chose peace instead.  If only this had been the reality hundreds of years earlier.

Finally, a third pupil was brought into the scenario and was offered free guns to become the most powerful tribe in the land - and she agreed!  This showed once again how the British divided the people of Africa and caused horrific damage to people across the country.

The performance of Free For All followed the time of workshops, and a small day-time audience witnessed the history of the abolition of the Slave Trade - led by William Wilberforce.