Pupils impress with museum Takeover Day at Moyse’s Hall in Bury St Edmunds

More than 130 schoolchildren helped celebrate St Edmund’s Day at Moyse’s Hall Museum in Bury St Edmunds on Friday.

The event saw pupils from All Saints, Sexton’s Manor, Westgate and Guildhall Feoffment primary schools make Saxon shields and take part in an Edmund history tour and weapon and armour handling session.

It was organised for Kids in Museums: Takeover Day with five year nine pupils from King Edward VI School helping to run it, as visual art leaders.

Dan Clarke, St Edmundsbury Borough Council’s heritage officer, said: “It was a great success and we are already looking forward to holding another Takeover Day next year.”

Cllr Joanna Rayner, portfolio holder for leisure, culture and heritage, said: ‘It was wonderful to see so many young people at the museum, all learning about St Edmund, celebrating St Edmund’s Day, and enjoying themselves, too.

“The King Edward VI students did a great job helping the workshops go smoothly to make the event such a huge success.”

Kate Brown, head of visual art at King Edward VI, said: “The pupils very much enjoyed helping out at the museum and it was a great learning experience, offering a valuable insight into the St Edmundsbury heritage service and creating leadership opportunities across the partnership schools.”