A BASINGSTOKE school held an afternoon of activities to commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War.

Around 70 pupils from The Costello School, in Crossborough Hill, Basingstoke, held the event at the school, and Basingstoke and Deane Mayor Councillor Roger Gardiner and Mayoress Tricia Gardiner did the official opening honours.

The event kicked off with a 1914-2014 football game which saw two teams swap a commemorative pennant that was made by textile students at the school especially for the event.

Visitors were able to admire work carried out by students and staff at the school after they took part in a research project to gather information about relatives who fought in the conflict.

Students also took part in a variety of performances which included readings of wartime poems, diary extracts and music from the time, including a sing-along session to wartime classics such as Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag and It’s A Long Way To Tipperary.

Traditional afternoon tea and cakes were made and served by the students, and commemorative T-shirts were available to purchase on the day.

A total of £170 was raised for the Basingstoke branch of the Royal British Legion.

The event came just in time to appreciate around 20,000 poppies that had been planted around the school grounds as a mark of remembrance for those who lost their lives in the four-year war.

Sophie Pyne, a history teacher at the school and organiser of the event, told The Gazette: “We had lots of positive feedback from parents.

“There were lots of different students taking part so it involved pupils across the school which was really good, and we were pleased with the attendance at the event.”