Mathias Busekist
Show-and-tell got a little too real.
An elementary school in Ashbourne, Derbyshire was evacuated this week after a student brought a World War II hand grenade to a school assembly — prompting a swift response from staff and the arrival of an army bomb squad.
The unexpected incident unfolded during a show-and-tell presentation when the young student casually pulled the grenade from his pocket. Unsure whether the device was still live, school principal Jeanette Hart acted immediately.
“I ended the assembly, took it off him and slowly carried it outside and put it behind a far tree in the car park,” Hart told the BBC. “I wasn’t 100% happy carrying it, to be honest.”
Authorities quickly cleared the building and called in explosive ordnance experts. Using X-ray equipment, the bomb squad confirmed the grenade was inactive and posed no danger.
The item, it turns out, was a wartime family heirloom that the student had brought from home without informing his parents.
Hart said the boy appeared unaware of the seriousness of the object. “It was entirely innocent,” she said. “He knew it was from the war and just thought it was an interesting thing.”
The student’s parents were reportedly surprised but understanding. “They were a little taken aback when they found out,” Hart added.
No injuries were reported, and classes resumed after the all-clear. The school has since reminded families to ensure that show-and-tell items are thoroughly vetted before being brought into the classroom.