CHILDREN at a school celebrating 150 years have had a history lesson with a difference — from a pensioner who was evacuated to the village as a boy in the war.
Llanpumsaint pupils dressed in 1940s costume and were treated to a wartime experience at the Gwili Railway in Bronwydd Arms, where they were greeted by former evacuee Bernard Smith.
He was among thousands of children from big towns and cities who were packed off to the safety of countryside to escape the threat posed by the Luftwaffe's bombs.
Mr Smith, who turned 80 on Friday when he visited the young pupils, shared his experiences of life during the war with the new generation of village children.
He said he remembers the time clearly.
"I was evacuated and stayed with the vicar," he said.
"Then I went to stay with the blacksmith for a few months at the end.
"They were lovely people, marvellous.
"We couldn't have asked for better, we had a lovely time — I have never forgotten it.
"We were evacuated from Swansea — there was around 20 of us from Gors Road School. I can still remember all their names.
"We were evacuated in late 1940/early 1941.
"I was here until 1943.
"Mind you, they evacuated us but we used to go home for holidays and we were there for a couple of nights of the blitz.
"We weren't injured, my brother and I."
As part of his return, Mr Smith presented the village with a bible given to him at Whitsun 1942.
"I was awarded it for a 100 per cent attendance," he said.
"I've decided to give it to the village.
"I've kept it all this time, so I thought it would be good to give it back."
The trip was organised as part of the school's 150-year celebrations to give pupils an insight into life at the school in years gone by.
Head teacher Aled Davies said: "The wartime experience allowed us to take the children back to that era.
"We've also got a display showing children how life was 150 years ago.
"Pupils have been looking back at the school's history throughout the 150 years, comparing life then to how it is now."
Mr Davies said local man Arwyn Thomas launched a book on the school's history on Friday night.
On Saturday afternoon, around 200 former pupils attended a reunion, before the village joined for a celebration on Saturday in the night.
