Moving memorial to children and teachers killed in Sunday School bombing 80 years ago

Children and teachers killed when a Nazi bomb was dropped on a Sunday School in Torquay 80 years ago have been remembered in emotional services and stunning displays.

The milestone anniversary marks the devastating bombing of St Mary the Virgin in St Marychurch on May 30, 1943.

Over the last few days, there have been very emotional services held in the church to remember the 21 children and three teachers who lost their lives when a bomb was dropped on the church during enemy action. They were attending Sunday School.

Back in January, Father Nick Debney asked Sandie Jackson if she could initiate a display to commemorate the 80th anniversary.

She gathered together the Yarn Fairies who have been busy knitting and crocheting over the last five months creating wonderful displays which have been assembled in the churchyard in readiness for this time of remembrance.

Many people have already been drawn to the church by the displays, with many not knowing of the history and learning of the atrocities that took place that day in St Marychurch and the wider area of Torquay.

The displays consist of a knitted church with the clock stopped at 2.40pm, which was the time the bomb dropped.

The Lychgate is fully decorated but the main focus is on two enlarged photographs of the bombed church and a service with a full congregation dedicated to the rebuilding of the church. There are 24 beautiful colourful wreaths, one for each of the 24 boys, girls and teachers.

There is also a carousel dedicated to the boys and girls and their Sunday School teachers who so cruelly lost their lives that day. The carousel is made up of 24 ribbons linked to 24 poppies and ponies, with the names of each child and teacher acknowledged. Two poppies have a photo attached provided by their sisters who thankfully were not at church that day but can remember it well.

One of those ladies is a Yarnfairy and bravely shared her story on TV.

There is a large hoop with a cross in the centre  holding three wreaths which are in memory of the three teachers.

The most poignant display of all is a bedecked pagoda with the figures of a young boy and girl dressed in white standing on a bed of flowers, with knitted animals, butterflies, surrounded by hearts, bibles, crosses, wind spinners, with many more decking the trees.

There is also a pictorial display within the church with photographs and cuttings from the Herald Express reporting the tragic event.

After the Requiem Mass on Tuesday, May 30, a 10-bell peal rang through the churchyard for three hours. No-one could fail to be moved by it, sitting in the sun, looking at the displays with the bells of St Mary the Virgin in the background.

A Yarn Fairies spokesman said: “It has been a real honour to be involved in this project and it could not have come about without the vision, the planning and the hard work of Sandie Jackson (she won’t like me drawing attention to her) she is the Queen of the Fairies.”