WW1 Centenary Exhibition: 2014-18
In the Wooler district, 87 men, either born in the area or living in the area, gave up their lives for the freedom of their country when Britain became involved in World War 1. Their names appear on Wooler War Memorial - a Celtic cross which stands on a hill, the site of an ancient castle, opposite the police station in Church Street.
Inspired by Richard Waters of Glendale Local History Society, and supported by the Society, an exhibition was a set up to mark the centennial anniversary of World War 1. It was launched to coincide with an ecumenical commemoration service at St Mary's parish church held on Sunday 3 August 2014, which gave thanks for those who lost their lives in the cause of freedom, and asked for the peace of the world in our time. The display ran through until Armistice Day -11 November. The exhibition included a display of work undertaken by pupils from Glendale Middle School who had written moving, evocative poetry; also their Letters from the Trenches, capturing the life of soldiers in the trenches and nightmarish 'Flash-back Stories'. Two children and a teacher from Glendale Middle School were later selected to join a Battlefield Tour in September.
These children told of their moving experiences as part of a British Legion fundraising concert in November.
The exhibition also included several biographies of the WW1 poets together with some samples of their poetry; 'Surprising facts about World War 1 that one probably might not know'; an explanation of its symbolism of the Next of Kin Memorial Plaque (commonly know as a Dead Man's Penny), as well as information which had been found concerning those fallen, who originated from Wooler. Appreciative comments were recorded by many from far- flung places in a visitors' book!
In addition to Wooler's Celtic cross, the United Reformed Church holds three World War 1 memorials: a wall mounted brass plaque, a 'Glastonbury' communion chair, and a brass vase in memory of an individual - Robin Cavers- Hogg. St Mary's Anglican Church has a wooden Reredos screen behind the Altar holding carved names of those who died in the Great War. Also housed within this same church is a wooden scroll once held in a school which is now demolished. Images of these memorials were on view and have all been recorded on the North-East War Memorials Project's website, which is highly recommended! - www.newmp.org.uk
It is hoped that this exhibition will be mounted annually, being built up as new information comes to light - certainly it has been mounted again for 2015. Meanwhile Richard continues his research with the aim of tracing details of all those named on the memorial, and has plans to extend his research to those men from Wooler and Glendale who served and returned home. He intends to write a book as a tribute to the fallen and to preserve their memory for posterity, enhancing for future generations their heritage Lest we Forget.
Inspired by Richard Waters of Glendale Local History Society, and supported by the Society, an exhibition was a set up to mark the centennial anniversary of World War 1. It was launched to coincide with an ecumenical commemoration service at St Mary's parish church held on Sunday 3 August 2014, which gave thanks for those who lost their lives in the cause of freedom, and asked for the peace of the world in our time. The display ran through until Armistice Day -11 November. The exhibition included a display of work undertaken by pupils from Glendale Middle School who had written moving, evocative poetry; also their Letters from the Trenches, capturing the life of soldiers in the trenches and nightmarish 'Flash-back Stories'. Two children and a teacher from Glendale Middle School were later selected to join a Battlefield Tour in September.
These children told of their moving experiences as part of a British Legion fundraising concert in November.
The exhibition also included several biographies of the WW1 poets together with some samples of their poetry; 'Surprising facts about World War 1 that one probably might not know'; an explanation of its symbolism of the Next of Kin Memorial Plaque (commonly know as a Dead Man's Penny), as well as information which had been found concerning those fallen, who originated from Wooler. Appreciative comments were recorded by many from far- flung places in a visitors' book!
In addition to Wooler's Celtic cross, the United Reformed Church holds three World War 1 memorials: a wall mounted brass plaque, a 'Glastonbury' communion chair, and a brass vase in memory of an individual - Robin Cavers- Hogg. St Mary's Anglican Church has a wooden Reredos screen behind the Altar holding carved names of those who died in the Great War. Also housed within this same church is a wooden scroll once held in a school which is now demolished. Images of these memorials were on view and have all been recorded on the North-East War Memorials Project's website, which is highly recommended! - www.newmp.org.uk
It is hoped that this exhibition will be mounted annually, being built up as new information comes to light - certainly it has been mounted again for 2015. Meanwhile Richard continues his research with the aim of tracing details of all those named on the memorial, and has plans to extend his research to those men from Wooler and Glendale who served and returned home. He intends to write a book as a tribute to the fallen and to preserve their memory for posterity, enhancing for future generations their heritage Lest we Forget.