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The Walk of Witness in Devizes

SCHOOLS and churches across Wiltshire took part in a wide range of secular and religious events to mark the different aspects of Easter.

At Nursteed Primary School in Devizes about 150 pupils made Easter bonnets or had wacky hairstyles.

One pupil's Easter bonnet comprised a rotating nest with a chick in it. Devizes hat shop owner Joan Pressley had the difficult job of judging the best bonnets from each class.

At Bromham, youngsters at Busy Kids Pre-school and the reception class at St Nicholas Primary School paraded their Easter bonnets for their parents.

Primary school headteacher Paul Bacon judged the bonnets and awarded Easter eggs to the winners.

At St Joseph's Primary School in Devizes children were invited to make an Easter garden in a vase, tray, basket or box.

Some gardens were made of Lego while others had soil and flowers. The only stipulation was that they contain a cross, tomb and a sign of new life.

At St Peter's Primary School in Devizes pupils decorated egg shaped templates in a variety of colours and patterns.

Mary and Ted show off their bonnets at Bromham

The designs were judged by Devizes Mayor Julian Beinhorn.

Earlier in the day pupils attended a church service, a party and took part in an Easter egg hunt.

Students at Heddington School enacted parts of the Easter story with an extra special guest.

Francis the donkey visited the Church of England school near Calne with the Rev Philip Bromiley to examine the Easter week story.

Acting headteacher Tracey Dunn said: "Holy week this year fell in term time making it a very special time for both staff and pupils."

Pupils of By Brook Valley Primary School in Yatton Keynell were also joined by a four legged friend as they marked Easter.

A pony accompanied the children as they paraded to St Nicholas Church in Biddestone for a special service on Sunday.

In Marlborough, a cast of 50 children from St Peter's School enacted the Passion of Christ to packed audiences.

For two nights, St Mary's Church was converted into a theatre-in-the-round for the production, which was directed by Dot McCree of drama group History Alive, and it was watched by a total audience of more than 300.

Despite chilly conditions, representatives of all the churches in Devizes gathered in the Market Place on Good Friday for a Walk of Witness.

Three huge crosses were borne from local churches and prayers were said before they were carried through the town, along Quakers Walk and up Roundway Hill.

One was left in place there for the dawn service at 6am on Easter morning.

11:59am Thursday 27th March 2008

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