Willow Grove Time Capsule 2026 – Creating History Together: A Special Thank You to the Mayor of Bedford

Willow Grove Primary School would like to extend its sincere thanks to the Mayor of Bedford, Tom Wootton, for joining the school on Friday 12th June 2026 to help bury its very first time capsule.

Since opening its doors in September 2024, Willow Grove has quickly become a thriving and vibrant part of the Wixams community. The creation of this time capsule marks an important milestone in the school’s journey and provides a unique opportunity to capture a snapshot of life at Willow Grove during its early years.

The children of Willow Grove thoroughly enjoyed meeting the Mayor and were excited to take part in such a significant event in the school’s history. His visit made the occasion even more special and helped pupils understand the importance of preserving memories and artefacts for future generations.

Time capsules are valuable historical artefacts that preserve memories, experiences and everyday details that might otherwise be forgotten. They offer future generations a fascinating insight into how people lived, learned and worked at a particular moment in history. While it is unlikely that the capsule will be opened within the lifetime of those who contributed to it, it is hoped that when it is eventually discovered, it will provide future children and families with a meaningful connection to the school’s beginnings and the community that helped shape it.

The capsule contains a variety of items that tell the story of Willow Grove in 2026, including original planning documents, school timetables, staffing information, contextual pupil data, school dinner menus, a commemorative tea towel featuring pupil artwork, and a collection of photographs capturing life around the school.

Following the burial of the time capsule, members of the School Council were delighted to have the opportunity to enjoy a drink and cake with the Mayor. During this special meeting, pupils asked a range of thoughtful, interesting and valuable questions about his role as Mayor, his responsibilities and his experiences in public service. The Mayor was incredibly generous with his time, and the children greatly enjoyed learning more about local government and civic leadership from him.

Willow Grove Primary School is incredibly grateful to everyone who contributed to this exciting project and to Mayor Tom Wootton for helping to create a lasting legacy for future generations of Willow Grove pupils and the wider Wixams community. It is hoped that one day, when the time capsule is opened, it will be an amazing discovery for the future children of Wixams and provide a fascinating glimpse into life at Willow Grove Primary School in 2026.