St Anne's RC Primary School Audenshaw
May 2010 saw the the 'Wolves of Rome', with banners flying and eagles raised, marching to Audenshaw as a Century from the Invictus Legion visited St Anne's RC Primary School. Ox drawn carts slowed the traffic passing through Fairfield Wells but as Paul and Matt unloaded to set up for the day the oxen had their reward when legionaires took them to the nearby reservoir. Well watered they enjoyed a day's rest from their usual toil.
The oxen were set free to graze on the nearby lush, green, well kept pastures and a tribe of locals, weilding strange sticks and hitting what looked like perfectly round white stones came close by. They soon scattered when a tortoise in battle formation started to advance towards them. We must study this new weapon more closely.
To say we received a warm welcome would be an understatement. Children in toga's, gladiators dressed ready for the arena and a sea of smiling faces welcomed us with cheers and laurel leaves, making us homesick for a stroll along the Via Sacra in Rome.
Timelines, Boudica, weapons and medicine were just some of the topics covered and the class are now very glad their mum's use washing powder instead of washing clothes the traditional Roman way.
Explaining Timelines
Matt prepared a selection of beads, cheeses, olives and other samples that the children tried as we recreated a Roman diet without the sugers and additives which are now part of our everyday lives.
We learnt that the Roman's came to Britain looking for gold, silver, copper and lead.
Food Prep Roman style using a mortar and pestel
We tried olives, cheese and different types of bread
Once again a very special thank you to the bakery at Tesco Droylsden who baked and donated a selection of their 'Breads of the World' for the class to sample. The 'mediterranean bread' proved a massive hit once again.
Olives are cool ! 
We learnt how a Roman kept clean, how children played and how strong an arch can be
We used flint and fire strikers to make sparks and Mr Davenport was best a it
Roman punishment could be very cruel
We smelt herbs and spices from the medical table
We ground herbs to make medicine and Paul showed us lots of things on the doctors table
We learnt that doctors still use pork when they are training and how to remove an arrow head
We made a 'tortoise' and learnt how a Roman legion went into battle
Paul taught us how to fight and we realised that teamwork was very important 2000 years ago
Ox carts loaded and flags unfurled the Wolves of Rome marched home, we'd all had a fantastic day and promised to return if asked.
The following comments show what the children thought about it.
Another great day Paul. The kids loved it.
Your passion rubs off on the children and your knowledge allows them to develop skills, especially through the practical activities.
Thank You!
Michael ( Teacher )
Dear Paul,
I liked it when you let me hold the real sword! I like swords because I am a ninja. I also liked the pork and ball bit!
Thank you for my gummy sweet and my liquorice stick. They were really yummy! Also when we sang the song, I hope you liked it!
Yours sincerely,
Year 3
Dear Paul,
Thank you for coming in for us it sounded like it was a wonderful day.
When you took the ball out of the pork it looked like good fun. Later when they put on the weapons and the armour it looked great and it looked delicious when you had the foods like honey, posh bread and cheese.
When you went outside to do the timeline, it looked super good. Also the face paint looked fantastic. I really wish I was there on that day, hope you come again please!
After dinner it looked good when you had the real roman gold shiny treasure. And it looked super great when you looked at the roman arches!
Yours sincerely,
Year 3
Dear Paul,
Thank you for coming in for us, it was a wonderful day. I hope you will come again. You are so nice I liked you.
When we got the pork it was quite horrible putting your hand in it. But I have got to say it did look delicious.
I like the activities that you brought in for us. I really appreciated it. My favorite activity was when we put are head in the sauner steam. The roman day was good. Thank you,
At the beginning of the day we done a time line with BC we all had a sheet on saying some words on it and we put them in order.
When Ben put the roman armour on everyone laughed because he looked funny. Then I put it on everyone and everyone laughed again.
Paul you shown us the roman treasure but it was only pretend, I wish I had real treasure.
Yours Sincerely,
Year 3
Dear Paul,
I am really sorry that I was not there on Monday because I was on holiday at Spain. I was learned all sorts what you did on that Monday. It must of bin great on that Roman day; my friends told me all about it.
I would have enjoyed the time line because it sounds very fun. Oh I heard they had posh Roman bread. Is it really nice? Well it does sound quiet nice!!
You also gave them honey to try. Two of my friends shared a jar of honey. They must of bin hungry the two of my friends. My Friends loved the honey very much.
Lots of my friends loved the Roman day they thought it was very fun. I hope you had fun.Yr3 taught you a Roman song it must of been fun.
Yours sincerely
Year 3
Dear Paul,
Thank you for our wonderful roman day in healthy
Schools week .Thank you for spending the hole of
the day with us trying the food we haven't
even tried but I did not like the honey.
Meanwhile when you brought the armour in I was
Very exited and I liked the tortoise with the guards
So you don't get hit. I liked the marvelous surd it
Was very nice however I liked all of the things you
Did with us also I liked the protected hat.
From Year 3
Dear Paul,
Thank you for the lovely day. We really appreciated the whole day of the Romans. We really liked the objects you brought in for us to play with. We also liked all the food you brought and let us try we really liked that such as the roman bread and cheese. The roman games were excellent I liked the cup and ball the best. The best thing I liked was when we got to put our heads in the Roman steam bath. We also didn't know about a lot of those things so you taught them .I also liked it when most of the boys dressed up as the Romans and Ben wore the real Armour suite and sword. I think I taught you something as well song thank you for a sweet and the lickerish stick. I also liked it when we had to get the ball out of the pork.
Yours sincerely,
Year 3