E. Ita Ekpenyon

Photo:Image created by pupils from College Park School with artist Jonathan Boast

Image created by pupils from College Park School with artist Jonathan Boast

Jonathan Boast

Booklet

Ita Ekpenyon was a headmaster in Calabar, Nigeria. He decided to leave for England as he wanted to study Law.  He never completed his studies as war broke out in September 1939. Ita did not hesitate to do his bit, and started training as an air raid warden, eventually becoming senior air-raid warden in St Marylebone.

Ita Ekpenyon rallied support for the British cause with radio broadcasts on the BBC's 'Calling West Africa' programme, which prompted the Nigerian people to finance the cost of a tank.  Ita took pride in that he did as an African and as "one of many people of other countries that make up the Empire".

'Some Experiences of an African Air Raid Warden' is Ita's personal account of his time volunteering as a senior air-raid warden in the West End.  His account has now been beautifully illustrated by pupils from College Park School in Westminster and also features KS2 learning activities.

The learning resource is free to download for educational purposes only.

 

This page was added by Camilla Bergman on 21/06/2010.

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