CHILDREN have compiled some of their most meaningful objects and memories to be buried in a time capsule.

Pupils at St Edward’s Primary School, Darwen, put face masks, toilet roll and hand sanitiser along with messages to future pupils into the capsule and buried it in the school grounds. It is hoped the capsule will be brought back to the surface in 2041.

Year 6 decided to write letters to children attending the school in two decades time, Year 5 wrote thank-you letters to key workers, Year 4 created a ‘Covid rap’ and Year 3 placed images from England’s fine run at Euro 2020 into the ground.

Year 2 opted to show the effects of the pandemic on school life, with Teams meetings replacing assemblies and lining up outside socially distanced, while Year 1 placed rainbows in the capsule to signify “after a storm, comes a rainbow”.

Head teacher Vanessa Knowles said: “I am so proud of our school family. Through the past difficult 16 months we have all stayed unified and supported each other to enable our wonderful children to feel safe, secure and happy.

“I know that when the time capsule is opened in 2041 there will be many families and staff reminiscing about this special time when our children showed amazing determination and resilience.”

The two children chosen to lower the capsule into the ground were the school’s oldest and youngest pupils, Mia Cross, 11, and Lexi Suddick, five.

Helena, five, said: “We had to stay at home and couldn’t see our friends and family.”

Evie, six, said: “I had to isolate when I had Covid.”

Susette, eight, said: “I think that in 20 years people will be inspired by our attitude and how we were able to carry on with a smile.”

Harvey, eight, said: “It was boring staying at home and not seeing our friends but I am excited about what people will think about the time capsule.”

Cherry,11, said: “I am glad that we did the time capsule because in 20 years’ time others will know what we have been through.”

Nathan,11, said: “The time capsule is made of steel so will last 20 years. We wrote letters to children in 2041. I am glad we did it.”

Year 5 teacher Mrs Enslin got married in June after postponing her wedding from 2020 and wrote a description of a Covid wedding with 30 people to be dropped into the capsule.

Chair of governors Robert Beardsworth compared the last pandemic to a quote from Charles Dickens in Tale of Two Cities: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

The school say the idea came about so that in the future, whenever the pandemic is mentioned, the pupils could look back proudly and tell their own children: “I was at St Edward’s then, it was tough, but at times it was the best of times because our school came through it and we always believed.”

A famous Julian of Norwich quote accompanied: “That all will be well, and all will be well, and every kind of thing will be well.

“For there is a force of love moving through the universe that holds us fast and will never let us go.”

Local street artist Curley also dropped some images he’d composed himself into the time capsule.