Primary school and care home create touching We'll Meet Again VE Day video

West Rainton Primary School, near Durham City, and the village’s Springfield Lodge Care Home have enjoyed a close relationship even before the onset of the pandemic.

Now the pair have combined to produce a video made up of individual clips of pupils and residents cheering each other up.

It includes footage of Springfield residents dancing with care home staff wearing PPE items and pupils wearing period army uniforms.

Dame Vera Lynn’s classic wartime tune We’ll Meet Again provides an appropriate musical backdrop to reflect both the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the hope that everyone will soon see other again.

The school’s headteacher, Alison McDonough, said: “The children of West Rainton Primary School and residents of Springfield Lodge work closely all year round.

“Projects have included a joint Nativity play in the local church and a poppy day lunch in school.

They have developed a real friendship and both groups are missing each other during this difficult time.

“As current holders of Dementia Friendly Community of the Year award, in collaboration with West Rainton and Leamside Dementia Friendly Community, we keep championing the joy of inter-generational friendships.

“With the 75th anniversary of VE day being an event we would definitely have marked together, the school felt it important to create this project to show our thoughts are with the residents of Springfield Lodge, as

well as showing our gratitude to the dedicated team of staff there who are working tirelessly to protect and care for them.

“Many families worked very creatively to film the short clips at home, and the children accessing key worker childcare in school also loved taking part.

“For the residents, who have not been able to have visits from their families for almost two months now, the chance to celebrate with their young friends will be a welcome lift of spirits.”

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