Message from Dr Jon Denton

The comprehensive, varied and professional nature of this publication blew me away when I first read through it, and it stands as testament to both a talented group students, who have demonstrated considerable commitment over a long period of time, and to Miss Robinson, who inspired and adroitly guided the project. It affords a clear record of the chronological framework of the pandemic, events which have quickly become muddied and confused in the minds of many, but most valuably, it chronicles reactions, both those of the student themselves and society as a whole. What struck me most, whilst reading through the pages, was the sheer variety of these reactions, positive as well as negative and ranging from gaining new technical skills to frustration and introspection and also, outpourings of creativity.

As a corollary, I began to reflect on the multitalented nature of the students involved in the project and the variety of skills displayed within the pages; there is Oscar’s artwork, Maud’s photography, Keira’s story writing and Emily’s igloo building, and that is before we get to research, writing and presentation skills that undergird the project!

When I arrived at Hymers in 2007, I soon discovered, in a dusty cupboard, a long-forgotten copy of The Hymerian magazine dating from 1917. It provided a fascinating ‘time capsule’ of Hymers during the Great War and the insights that it provided were valuable for staff and students alike. The importance of this current capsule will be enhanced by the passing years and provide an invaluable resource for future generations of students.

Dr Jon Denton Head of History and Politics