MORE than 850 visitors, including students from Surrey schools and care home residents, enjoyed an impressive exhibition of First World War artefacts on show for three days at Hindhead’s St Edmund’s School.

The display of more than 200 artefacts and memorabilia came from the personal collection of Richard Taylor, the school’s deputy head of academic, who also mounted the exhibition.

He said “I have been overwhelmed by everyone’s response to the exhibition.

“So many of the artefacts have been seen by only a few people, so I was delighted to finally be able to share their existence with, and for them to be appreciated by, such a wide audience.”

An impressive addition to Mr Taylor’s display was the Victoria Cross awarded to pupil Phoebe Wilkinson’s great, great grandfather Captain Thomas Tannatt-Pryce, who served with the 4th Battalion Grenadier Guards and was killed in action in April 2018.

He was also awarded a Military Cross in 1915 with a Bar added in 1916.

The Victoria Cross was presented by King George V to his widow, Margaret Pryce, in April 1919 at Buckingham Palace.

Pupils, parents and staff also took part in an Armistice sponsored swim organied by the school’s other deputy head Toby Wright.

Participants swam non stop for 37 hours in honour of the 37 St Edmund’s Old Boys, who lost their lives in WWI.

To date, more than £9,500 has been raised with a lot more pledges still to come in.

All the proceeds are being donated to the There But Not There campaign – featuring soldier silhouettes which have appeared all over the country – to support the veterans of today.