Saturday, 11 October 2014

Heart of Conflict - parish stories from the First World War

We're delighted to have received a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to work in west Cornwall on Heart of Conflict. This is a project that George Harris has been developing over the past few months - and it's great news that we can get going on it now.  We are working with many different groups in the Camborne/Redruth area to collect objects and stories that will go on display at the Cornwall Studies Library in Redruth in the New Year, then move to libraries, schools or churches, giving as many people as possible the chance to see and contribute.

Kicking things off are Camborne Guides, who are going to collect stories from older people about the way World War 1 and subsequent wars have affected families and communities today. They're being trained in digital recordings at the end of the month by local media specialists, Azook, and will talk to people in residential homes.

We're keen to find other groups of young people from schools, youth clubs or anyone who lives in the Camborne Pool Redruth area, who may want to be involved. "Duke of Edinburgh volunteers or people who want to do media for their skill sections activity would be ideal," says Guide leader Karin Saunders. "But any young person with an interest in history can take part."

The Guides are starting off this week by filling small model suitcases with items they would send to someone at war today (as they did in World War 1), such as letters, poetry, photos, clippings of news from the West Briton etc. These will be part of an exhibition at the Cornwall Studies Library  in February half term 2015 ..
We'll be visiting local churches to see how they have commemorated conflict, in particular Penponds Church (pictured), where Canon James Sims Carah and his congregation collected money to send to the Front during the war and, after it was over, collected funds to create an impressive memorial to the dead.

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