Report by Mr. Richard Outram, UK and Ireland Mayors for Peace Chapter Secretary
To further the Manchester-Hiroshima school link first suggested by Chapter Secretary Richard Outram last year, Manchester actor, playwright, and author, Hazel Roy last month revisited the Funairi Municipal High School in Hiroshima.
Hazel says: “I made a presentation to the International Studies pupils, and showed them two films, one of the Chorlton High School in Manchester now linked to Funairi and another of a performance by the Open Voice community choir of the song, ‘Never Again the A Bomb’, in Japanese and English.
I presented the teacher with the scrapbook prepared by pupils from Chorlton High and the class were impressed that some pupils had included some Japanese text among their drawings and poems.
I was then given a tour of the impressive facilities at the school including a very large and beautiful theatre and a sight of their well-equipped orchestra, before being taken to meet the drama club.”
Funairi’s symbol is the acacia tree. Hazel was presented with a mug with this symbol in memory of her visit. Summing up her visit, Hazel said: “This was a very productive initial beginning to advance the twinning link, but this will need following up extensively now I am back in Manchester.”
Photos: courtesy of the City of Manchester