By Nick Pollard
It may seem odd these days, when statues are being pulled down or hidden away, but a century or so ago the British Empire was celebrated nationally each year. Empire Day originated in Canada but was introduced to the UK by Lord Meath in 1905. It was particularly aimed at school children and aimed to teach them about what were seen as the benefits of the Empire, while impressing on them that its future depended on them. The day chosen for the celebration was Queen Victoria’s birthday, 24th May.
The photo shows the Empire Day celebrations at Shepperton Council School (later renamed Shepperton Green School) sometime before the First World War. The school had been founded in a couple of tin huts in Sheepwalk in 1904, as a result of overcrowding at the National (Church of England) School in the High Street. In 1906 the new building seen here was opened, containing eight classrooms and a central hall. In a reflection of the times, it had cookery facili-ties for girls, and a woodworking workshop for the boys. The first headmistress was Miss Thornhill, whose name is commemorated by Thornhill Way, just opposite the former site of the school.
A newspaper report from 1909 describes a very tangible link with the Empire. A school in Shepparton in Australia had sent the Shepperton school a large flag (very likely that displayed on the building here) as well as 16 cases of apples, which were possibly of more interest to the children! Another report from 1913 outlines Empire Day at the school, when the schoolchildren were joined outside the school by local Scouts, the flags seen prominently here were saluted, and patriotic songs were sung. There were several local dignitaries in attendance, and Lord Meath himself was there to give an address.
Empire Day was renamed Commonwealth Day in 1958, in line with the changing nature of the institution. Shepperton Green School itself closed in 1987, replaced by nearby Saxon School, which the older children had attended since 1969, and was demolished to make way for the Pool End Close housing development.