A WEEKEND of walks and talks to entertainment and exhibitions is set to mark the centenary of the First World War later this month.
The Crowle and the Great War event takes place on Saturday, July 19 and Sunday, July 20, and will also include a pair of ‘back in time’ walks, a guided ‘soldiers walk’ on parish footpaths looking at places of significance to 18 villagers who gave their lives in the conflict and a family discovery trail to highlight village landmarks and buildings.
An exhibition will also be held in the village hall looking at life in Crowle in 1914, people can make their own memorial poppy, and local historian, Mark Rogers, will give free talks on different aspects of the 18 fallen.
A £4,900-award from the Heritage Lottery Fund’s First World War then and now programme, is also paying for a free ‘Crowle and the Great War’ A5 programme for all parishioners, looking back at life 100 years ago and providing details of the 18 fallen men.
A new A4 historical book, “Crowle and the Great War – our fallen 18,” which has been written for the event by three village genealogists, inspired by Mark Rogers’ research, will be on show and available to order at the exhibition, at cost and with the first 40 copies subsidised by the HLF grant.
Over the weekend children will be able to play games from the period at the hall, including skipping, hopscotch and hoops; refreshments and cakes will be available and there will be a ‘poppy’ tombola, with all prizes having a poppy theme, proceeds from which will go to the British Legion.
The Sherwood Foresters, army regiment, which now incorporates the local Worcestershire Regiment of 1914, and the Western Front Association will also have a display at the event.
On Saturday evening the village theatre and singing troupes, Crowle Players and Crowle Singers, will jointly present musical entertainment from the period at the Old Chequers pub, where food of the time, such as corned beef hash and rabbit pie, will be available and for which tickets will be on sale at the village post office.
Finally on Sunday at 10am there will be a commemorative service at St John the Baptist Church of England.
