On Friday 29th January, Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School was visited by Colonel Granville Thomas, and his wife, in order to explain to Year 8 pupils what life was like in the English Civil Wars, which took place between 1642-1651. He explained how people decided whose side they were on (the King’s or Parliament’s – or neither) and how brothers fought against brothers; sons against fathers.

The pupils were asked to choose sides and think about how may people they knew (or were related to) were on the opposing side or had chosen to stay neutral. In the afternoon pupils were given a taste of what 17th Century meals were like; there was much amusement as they tried chicken and curds cheese.

He went on to give an exhibition of typical weaponry used – from pikes to matchlock muskets – and had willing volunteers to test the strength of both leather and metal armour. The final session saw Colonel Thomas demonstrate the firing of a matchlock and a small piece of artillery – known as a falconette - a weapon capable of firing a 1 and a half pound, solid iron ball over 800 yards – on the school field.