Stamford Hill Primary School, Haringey

2 July 2015


LETTER FROM WILLIAM ROBINSON CLARKE                       STAMFORD HILL PRIMARY SCHOOL

Dear Rosalina,

How’s family?

Life here in France isn’t easy, but don’t fret

Even though the army might knock you down, they pick you up and make you stronger.

Guess what? I have become the first EVER black pilot to join the R.F.C!

One day I was taking photos over the Ypres front

Looking for a nice place to give Fritz a couple of pills.

We were so taken up looking for a target

We forgot to look out for enemy scouts.

Rat-a-tat-tat, Rat-a-tat-tat, Rat-a-tat-tat, Rat-a-tat-tat, (Year 6)

Bang Here (clap) Bang There (clap) Bang ev’ry where. (Year 5)

Rat-a-tat-tat, Rat-a-tat-tat, Rat-a-tat-tat,

I was hit at the start of the scrap

Rat-a-tat-tat, Rat-a-tat-tat, Rat-a-tat-tat,

The machine was riddled but I survived!

The air is penetratingly cold, inexplicably cold, unbelievably cold!

It is below freezing and I can’t wait to come home to the crispy, warm fireplace.

My hands shiver, and I can see my breath.

The stench is objectional – vomit, diarrhoea, mud.

Thinking of you gets me through ev’ry single day.

It’s the only thing that makes me smile.

Yours,

William Robinson Clarke

Your Robbie.


I learned so much about World War 1 that I never knew happened. Normally finding information about the past would be boring but I was definitely wrong. I loved all the new facts I learnt and I was hungry for more. I love learning from the past now. – Zoe

I learned it is always good to share, and that history is amazing, not boring! – Dennita

The best thing about this activity that I found was that we got to experience what we would call a ”rare occasion” yet what a soldier would call ”every day life”. – Joseph

My favourite bit about the activity was acting as soldiers, because you can actually feel like you are in the army. – Ilham

The best thing about this activity was that we were able to make our own music and we were using our inner singing ability. – Ayja

My favourite bit about the activity was acting as soldiers, because you can actually feel like you are in the army. – Ilham

I lThe best thing about the day was that I could perform to the whole school about something that I have worked very hard on. – Oyinka

Fun, creative and unique! – Nayana

The children are more enthusiastic about history. – Staff at Stamford Hill Primary School

The children felt proud of what they had achieved. – Staff at Stamford Hill Primary School

The composer was very good at getting the children to participate and children felt like they had ownership of their song. The children were extremely keen to receive back their music. They felt emotionally involved with the song. – Staff at Stamford Hill Primary School