A Very Special Moment
PAUL MCLAUGHLIN
Royalty and world leaders may have topped the guest list, but it was the schoolchildren from Hastings who stole the spotlight at last Wednesday’s historic unveiling of the Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum. As the King and Queen, Prime Minister Andy Burnham, and French President Emmanuel Macron looked on, pupils from Mulberry West St Leonards Primary Academy, the Mulberry Academy Hastings, and Claverham Community College became the true stars as the 1,000-year-old artefact, on loan from France, was unveiled.
Labour MP Helena Dollimore, who led the campaign to secure free priority exhibition tickets for local school groups – along with complimentary train travel from Southeastern Railway for 1,066 students,joined the children at the ceremony. Her campaign was backed by broadcaster and 1066 Country resident David Dimbleby and historian Dan Snow, who co-signed her letter to British Museum Chairman George Osborne last year calling for the scheme after the exhibition was announced.
Helena Dollimore told HIP: “Everyone is so excited about the Bayeux Tapestry returning to our shores for the first time in nearly 1,000 years, and it is only right that children from Hastings and 1066 Country are at the heart of this national moment.” She added: “Hastings has often been at the centre of historical events, but we have not always felt the benefits, and we currently rank in the bottom 10 places nationally for social mobility.”
For the pupils of Mulberry West St Leonards Primary Academy, the visit to the British Museum was a history lesson brought vividly to life. Imari marvelled at the intricate craftsmanship of the tapestry, while fellow pupil Lottie was awestruck by its “immaculate preservation”. Thomas said watching the King address the crowd in both French and English helped everyone grasp the event’s significance and made him realise “how lucky we are that the tapestry is still intact”. Polly was full of praise for the museum staff, saying they were “kind and professional and made us all feel very welcome”.
Ms Dollimore said she was “so proud to represent Hastings and to introduce local children to His Majesty the King and Queen, President Macron, and the Prime Minister. It was a very special moment and they did us proud.”
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