PERSHORE’S Mayor and Mayoress will be on hand to open Bishampton History’s Society’s Poppy Parade event.
Coun Tony Rowley and Debbie Rowley will be on hand tomorrow (Saturday) to kick off the event at Bishampton village hall.
The free event runs from 1pm to 4pm and will showcase the work the society is undertaking on the two year First World War project which was awarded Heritage Lottery Funding last year.
The project – The First World War and its impact on a rural Worcestershire Village – drew its inspiration from the restoration of the village war memorial and the families and friends of the men who are named on it.
Visitors will be able to enjoy a look back at the past 100 years ago and see what the researchers have found about village life at the time, how the war affected it, and what faced the soldiers going to the Western front.
Throughout the afternoon, they will also be able to collect some free poppy seeds intended to make Bishampton a ‘sea of red’ this summer like the Tower of London’s moat; join in a host of activities such as trying some First World War kit and see some artefacts of the time on loan from relatives of those who served.
Children will be able to ‘enlist’ in the army, have a go at drill with Private Paul Harding, see how wounded soldiers were cared for by Nurse Helen Lee, and make poppies and Bertie mascots. Society Chairman Mike Rickard said: “We’ve come a long way in finding out about the gallant men who served in the First World War from our village, as well as about the women and
families left behind and we want to share this with the wider community.
The Society is keen to hear and talk to anyone with information about the World War 1 period who is local to Bishampton – as all the details found will be the subject of a book to be published when the project is due to finish in November 2016.
Visit www.bishampton.org.uk or call Mike Rickard on 01386 462037 or e-mail [email protected] for more information.
