An engaging exhibition exploring Earby’s involvement in the First World War starts tomorrow.
Commemorating the centenary of the start of the war, the multimedia exhibition entitled “Our First World War” is being held over the weekend at Earby’s New Road Community Centre between 10am and 4pm on both days.
After months of gathering and recording by the Earby and District Local History Society, the exhibition will feature war memorabilia, photographs, artefacts, posters, display boards, uniforms, weapons, kit, films, audio clips, diaries and much more.
As well as the exhibition, the event will include a performance of period songs by pupils from Earby’s Springfield School tomorrow morning from 11am until 11-30am and a concert given by Earby Brass Band on Sunday afternoon at 2pm.
Tomorrow afternoon between noon and 4pm, there will be demonstrations of First World War weaponry and re-enactments of a Western Front casualty clearing station and a life in the trenches.
History Society chairman Bob Abel said: “It’s been a bigger task than we initially anticipated but it’ll be alright on the night, as they say.
“When we were first discussing the project, one of my main concerns was that we might not have enough artefacts to put on display which has proved to be totally unfounded.
“We’ve had quite a lot of people from Earby come forward and generously lend us material, and many others with Earby connections, as well as a museum in Craven and a military museum in York.”
The exhibition follows the publication earlier this year of a book by Stephanie Carter entitled “Earby in the First World War” and will focus on the effect the war had on the Earby area and its people.
There will be film shows throughout the event and the Earby Development Group will be providing refreshments and lunches between noon and 2pm on both days.
The project is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Opening the event at 10-30am tomorrow will be Barry Blood, Vice President of the Skipton branch of the Royal British Legion, who will represent the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, and Pendle Mayor Coun. Graham Roach.