Eltham college kids have been filming and interviewing Second World War footage with interviews from residents at a Sidcup retirement home.

Film students of Stationers’ Crown Woods Academy in Bexley Road, made two short documentaries featuring residents from St Margarets Care Home in Priestlands Park Road with the focus placed on their lives during the war.

Speaking to the elderly residents, Shae-French Gibbens, 17, said: “It has been a fantastic opportunity and you have really made us think about our own lives through listening to your memories.

With help and guidance from Chocolate Film Productions, the year 12 students interviewed residents and collated real archive footage of Bexley from the past with the help of media head Dan Gleghorn.

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St Margarets Care Home and Film students of Stationers’ Crown Woods Academy

Mr Gleghorn said: “The students really enjoyed it.

For me, the big picture was working with people who are often out of sight - it was really a very holistic programme.”

Oliver Parkin, 31 and Helena Coan, 21, of Chocolate Film Productions were impressed with the way the students handled themselves and the Film London archive footage.

Mr Parkin said: “The kids were great - it was the first opportunity to make their debut film.

“They picked it up really quickly and felt really enriched by the experience."

The students showed the completed film to the residents on February 5 to a very grateful audience.

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