Wow! What a week! Dan Pollendine and I have been into four different schools in and around Hull this week, working with around 300 children on the Free For All project.
Hull was the home of William Wilberforce MP and other famous abolitionists - so it was an important stop for us on the tour. Hull itself is celebrating the bi-centenary of the abolition of the Slave Trade throughout the year with various events, and the Wilberforce house has seen a major refurbishment allowing visitors the chance to see where he was raised.
Withernsea Junior School was our first stop, followed by Victoria Dock Primary (where St Charles RC Primary joined us), The Parks Primary and then Kelvin Hall Secondary on Friday.
Our final stop on Saturday was City Hall - the biggest venue to perform in Hull! Children from all the schools arrived at 9.30am to rehearse with the professional cast - and after a very hurried run-through, it was time to get into costume and start the show! (I think its true to say that none of us had felt less prepared!)
The Rev Allen Bagshaw introduced the performance having organised the schools visits and played a huge part in the week's preparations.
Dave and Anita had both just arrived back off their holidays to dive straight into the action, and I think they will be ready for another holiday now!
We want to say a huge thank you to the schools involved this week - and also for all the children who turned up on Saturday to perform. A truly memorable show.
Pictures of the rehearsals and some from the performance will be available through your schools - to view them, check out PeteSmithImages. (Thanks Pete!)
More pictures from the Saturday can be found on the right of this page.
Mike North
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