Britain’s Minister for Sport, Tourism and Equalities, Helen Grant, has announced £51,000 of Heritage Lottery Fund support for six First World War projects.
Ms. Grant made the announcement on a visit to the Fusilier Museum in Bury.
The Museum’s first floor has been re-developed with funding support from the Heritage Lottery Fund. New learning facilities and events spaces have been developed, as well as improved collections storage and exhibitions.
The new exhibitions at the museum “tell the important stories of local men and women who contributed and served in conflicts”, including the First World War, over the last 300 years.
The Minister said: “Next year’s First World War centenary will see the whole of the UK come together to remember that conflict, the sacrifices made and the profound impact it had on the world and every aspect of life in the years that followed”.
“There’ll be massive national moments of remembrance and reflection and thousands of smaller projects bringing it alive for local communities”.
“These Heritage Lottery Fund grants are brilliant examples of the huge variety of things that will take place. Each one small in itself, but when seen as a whole, creating a priceless resource for the whole country, and for today’s young people in particular”.
Grants
Commemorating Lt. Colonel J.E.Grimshaw, VC Holder – Abram Tenants & Residents Association (ATRA), Greater Manchester – £8,000
ATRA, working with the Lancashire Fusiliers, will create a memorial in honour of J E Grimshaw, from the village of Abram, who was awarded the Victoria Cross during the First World War.
A series of community events and activities will help local people learn more about and remember Colonel Grimshaw’s role in the conflict.
James Dixon’s Boys – Child Action North West, Blackburn Lancashire – £7,800
Child Action North West will work with local schoolchildren to explore and commemorate the lives of ten boys from Blackburn Orphanage, founded by James Dixon, who were killed during the First World War. A memorial garden will be created within the former Orphanage grounds. The schoolchildren will film a documentary based on their research and this will be used as a learning resource for the future.
Langley World War 1 – Poetry Film project – REELmcr, Manchester – £10,000
Social enterprise group, REELmcr, will work with the local community on the Langley Estate to explore and record their First World War history. By working with a historian, a poet and a film maker, participants will use collected artifacts, photographs and memorabilia to create a special poem to mark the Centenary in 2014.
St James First World War Memorial project – St James in the City, Liverpool – £5,600
The St James War Memorial Project of St James in the City, Liverpool, will work with local people to discover the First World War history of the names of 144 men listed on two lost war memorials originally based at the church. People will be able to learn about the impact of the war had on their local area and those who lived there. The findings will be shared with local schools and the wider community as part of Liverpool’s First World War commemorations.
Ashton Grammar School Memorial project – Tameside Museums and Galleries Service, Greater Manchester – £9,900
This project will focus on restoring a wooden First World War memorial that commemorates the teachers and former pupils of Ashton Grammar school who lost their lives during the conflict. Local volunteers and history groups will research the two teachers and 25 students whose names are listed on the memorial and share their stories with current students and the wider community.
Operations War Graves 100 – Veterans in Communities, Rossendale – £10,000
This volunteer-led project will restore, maintain and explore the stories behind hundreds of war graves and memorials in Bacup Cemetery in Rossendale, Lancashire. A wide range of community events will accompany the restoration works including creating a commemorative book, online resources, and giving talks to local schools and community groups.
Source: Heritage Lottery Fund press release
Date of press relase publication: 03/12/2013
Images courtesy of the Heritage Lottery Fund
Posted by: Daniel Barry, Centenary News