Europe
UK Day brings history to life for Lakenheath students
By
Stars and Stripes May 4, 2012
hodged@estripes.osd.mil David Hodge
Stars and Stripes May 4, 2012
Lakenheath Middle School student Michael Landvick studies a tactical U.K. police helmet during the school?s sixth annual U.K. Day, held Friday at the school at RAF Feltwell, England. More than 50 British presenters held hour-long historical and modern-day demonstrations for the school?s sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders. (STARS AND STRIPES)
Lakenheath Middle School student Michael Landvick studies a tactical U.K. police helmet during the school?s sixth annual U.K. Day, held Friday at the school at RAF Feltwell, England. More than 50 British presenters held hour-long historical and modern-day demonstrations for the school?s sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders. (STARS AND STRIPES)
050512UKDAYPHOTO02 Seventh-grader Harley Crawford mixes ingredients to make a traditional British scone during the Lakenheath Middle School?s U.K. Day, held Friday at RAF Feltwell, England. Students learned about British history and sports, among other subjects. (STARS AND STRIPES)
At the Lakenheath Middle School?s U.K. Day on Friday, seventh-graders listen to a man portraying a medieval executioner as he demonstrates a device called a brank, which was used on women who nagged their husbands or gossiped too much. (STARS AND STRIPES)
Lakenheath Middle School student Nikka Jiao dresses up in traditional Tudor clothing during the school?s sixth annual U.K. Day, held Friday at RAF Feltwell, England. More than 50 British presenters held hour-long demonstrations on Britain's history for the school?s sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders. Modern-day Britain was also represented, with police exhibits. (STARS AND STRIPES)
Re-enactor John Hyland, playing the part of a Roman soldier known as Titus Aelius Karus, speaks to Lakenheath Middle School students during U.K. Day, held Friday at RAF Feltwell, England. Hyland said his outfit is similar to the uniform once worn by a Roman infantry soldier. (STARS AND STRIPES)
Seventh-graders from Lakenheath Middle School learn how to make traditional British scones during the school?s annual U.K. Day, held Friday at RAF Feltwell, England. Pictured from left are: Monti Azur, Jaime Hall, John Sedlack and Logan Stacy. (STARS AND STRIPES)
Sixth-grades Shaun Freeman, left, and Kylar Cade sketch a design for a stained-glass piece of art during Lakenheath Middle School?s sixth annual U.K. Day, held Friday at RAF Feltwell, England. ()
Seventh-graders dress up for Lakenheath Middle School?s annual U.K. Day, on Friday at RAF Feltwell, England. From left are: Lamont Atkins, Daniela Clark-Murrieta, Skye Bucknert and Cameron DeBose. Dressed as a 1980s punk-rocker, 1960s swinging girls and as a member of The Beatles, the students were also celebrating the Queen?s Diamond Jubilee in June, which marks Queen Elizabeth II's 60-year reign. (STARS AND STRIPES)
RAF FELTWELL, England — More than 500 Department of Defense Dependents Schools-Europe students from Lakenheath Middle School spent Friday learning a great deal about history — Britain’s history, to be more exact.
Dubbed U.K. Day by the students and faculty, the school played host to dozens of British presenters who offered hour-long demonstrations in Old World stained-glass-making, living history and Tudor life in the 15th and 16th centuries, as well as information about medieval executions, complete with gallows.
Students also saw presentations reflecting modern-day life: the U.K.’s Ministry of Defence exhibited riot gear and police vehicles; there were lessons in the game of cricket and how to bake traditional English scones, as well as a bagpiper.
U.K. Day is funded by the Parent Teacher Organization and organized by the school’s host-nation teacher, Fiona Guyer.
“We’ve been doing this for six years now,” Guyer said. “Feedback from the students is always extremely positive. Some of them list it as the best day of the year, which is really great.”