Nostalgia: Furness school speeding back through history

In April 1995 members of the International Theatre for Children visited Greengate Junior School and involved youngsters a drama based on road safety.

The London-based company, sponsored by BP, was taking its show around the county.

Also at the school to get the road safety message across was Tony Brierley, the county road safety officer and PC Tony Foy, the traffic management officer.

The Mail, on April 5, noted: "The event raised the young audience's awareness of the hazards facing pedestrians.

"The message was hammered home with a series of scenarios acted out by the theatre group, assisted by several youngsters."

The Atlanta Olympic Games in the summer of 1996 also marked 100 years since the revival of the world sporting tournament which had its origins in ancient Greece.

The Mail, on July 17 in 1996, noted: "Like many schools, Greengate Junior has been celebrating the Olympics - but the children have been looking backwards not forwards.

"As part of a Greek week of activities, pupils staged their own version of the ancient Olympiad.

"Dressed in costumes, the children competed in sporting events dating from the original Games, such as the javelin, discus and running.

"They even ran their own version of the marathon.

"Pupils Rebecca Round and Steven Sharkey were elected as the chief citizens to oversee the games.

"But there was some relief that the pupils didn't stick too closely to tradition.

"At the ancient Olympiads, females were banned from competing or even watching and the sportsmen competed naked.

"During the week all lessons took on a Greek theme.

"Local potter Norman Hill helped pupils recreate the pottery of the time with Medusa masks.

"The school hall was transformed into a Greek temple, a play was staged and the children studied ancient Greece.

"Children were offered moussaka and taramasalata with desert a choice between ravamie (orange sponge with sesame seeds) or loukoumades (Greek eclairs)."