Corp Will Thomas of the Royal Welsh Second Battalion drills a young Neyland pupil
When a local primary school was looking for specialists to help train its stage army they called in the experts…
Neyland Community School called up some Pembrokeshire squaddies to help put on its Christmas nativity play.
Army recruitment staff based in Haverfordwest put the young soldiers through their paces … and even stayed to watch the dress rehearsal.
“The kids were really enthusiastic and responded incredibly well,” said Sgt Barry John, of the Royal Welsh Second Battalion and a former pupil.
“I used to go to the school and it was wonderful to be able to help out a school which had helped me so much when I was younger,” he said.
Organised by the school’s English Coordinator Mary Evans, A Tale of Two Birthdays features the massed ranks of Herod’s army – along with sand girls and entertainers as well as the more traditional nativity play cast.
“Herod’s army play a key role in the play and we wanted the children to look like real soldiers,” said Mrs Evans. “So I asked recruiting staff at Haverfordwest if they could help pass on their marching skills to the boys.
“They were wonderful and came to the school on three separate occasions to show the boys how they would be drilled if they were in a real army.
“It was an amazing experience for the boys and the soldiers had a huge impact on our school life while they were here.”
A Tale of Two Birthdays was performed to parents on Tuesday evening with another performance due to be staged tonight (Thursday).
