Wendy to join royals marking end of war
TWO representatives from Bacup Natural History Society will join Royalty at the National Armistice Day Service - a century after the end of the First World War.
The Society has spent the last four years carrying out Heritage Lottery-funded projects to commemorate the war and bring the stories of local people and places to life for visitors to the museum.
The Yorkshire Street museum received two lottery First World War Then and Now grants, first to develop a diorama of Fern Hill Hospital, and then Mrs Ibbitt’s Shop and Parlour, based on a hat shop in Union Street which sent war comforts to soldiers.
Secretary Wendy Watters received a letter inviting the organisation to enter a ballot for 300 places at the service at Westminster Abbey on Sunday, November 11.
Wendy said: “We were chuffed to bits to receive confirmation that we have been invited to the service.
“I will be attending, along with another representative of The Nat, and also present will be members of the Royal family and political and international representatives.
“Most of the people at the service will be those who have made a significant contribution to projects to commemorate the First World War centenary in the UK. We will be representing The Nat, representing Rossendale but, most important of all, representing Bacup.”
A key element in both projects was involvement of young people; the society worked with pupils from Northern Primary School and Cubs from 2nd Rossendale in Bacup.
A Meet the Tommy day was held as part of the development of the room dedicated to Fern Hill Auxiliary Hospital, which used to be in Stacksteads.
Children were invited to ‘join up’ and accept the King’s Shilling.
When Mrs Ibbitt’s shop was developed, a 1917 Christmas celebration was held and schoolchildren and Cubs helped develop a new town trail.
Wendy added: “I think a lot of people were not aware that we had a hospital in Stacksteads during the First World War and they didn’t realise that rationing started during the First World War.
“So it has been an education for many people. I have particularly enjoyed working with the children.”
The Armed Forces Covenant There But Not There fund has also granted two silhouettes of soldiers to be installed in the museum.
In addition, a Where Heroes Rest exhibition will be staged from the end of October to remember the 60 members of the armed forces from the First World War remembered in Bacup Cemetery.