Legion memorabilia
'Antiques Roadshow' launched
An Antiques Roadshow-style workshop enabling veterans to share Royal British Legion artefacts and personal tales is about to take to the roads.
During March and April, residents with photos, films, badges and Legion memorabilia are urged to bring them along to special library events and discuss the fascinating stories behind the objects with a historian.
The seven workshops are part of a landmark project, led by Leicestershire County Council, designed to record the contribution of the organisation from 1921 to 2011, and mark its 90th anniversary.
Thought to be the only one of its kind in the country, the ambitious initiative aims to gather the memories of veterans of all ages to make sure the group’s history is documented and preserved for future generations.
Since its launch last month, it has already unearthed an ashtray marking the 50th anniversary of the Ashby de la Zouch branch and a scrapbook recording Leicestershire's first female standard bearer's experiences in the early 1960s.
All the information collected will be recorded and copies stored in the Record Office at Wigston Magna as a legacy of the project, and to ensure that the history of the Legion is not forgotten.
David Sprason, County Council cabinet member for adults and communities, said: "This project will remind people that the work of the Royal British Legion goes on all year round, not just at ‘poppy time’. Their welfare and charitable work is as vital today as it was when it was founded in 1921.
"We're also keen to hear from volunteers who want to get involved in this unusual project and help us research the history of the Legion by transcribing recorded interviews and creating the final exhibition."
Richard Foster, County Manager for the Royal British Legion in Leicestershire and Rutland, said: “The council’s support has now extended into the whole community with this comprehensive project, designed to fully record and celebrate 90 years of Royal British Legion service to the Armed Forces family in Leicestershire and Rutland.
"Local branches of the Legion are getting involved in the library events, by putting on displays, and members will be there to tell people about the work of the charity today."
The workshops are taking place at:
| Market Harborough Library |
Thursday 3rd March |
3pm - 6pm |
| Oadby Library |
Wednesday 9th March |
10am - 1pm |
| Coalville Library |
Saturday 19th March |
10am - 1pm |
| Wigston Library |
Tuesday 22nd March |
3pm - 6pm |
| Melton Library |
Saturday 2nd April |
10am -1pm |
| Hinckley Library |
Thursday 7th April |
3pm- 6pm |
| Loughborough Library |
Friday 15th April |
10am - 1pm |
To find out more or to get involved in the project, please contact Margaret Bonney, Project Coordinator, at The Record Office, Long Street, Wigston Magna, Leicestershire LE18 2AH, on 0116 257 1080 or email margaret.bonney@leics.gov.uk . More details are available at www.leics.gov.uk/britishlegion .
Photo/interview:
To arrange photos or interviews, please contact the County Council press office on 0116 305 6274 or email pressoffice@leics.gov.uk .
Notes:
The Royal British Legion safeguards the welfare, interests and memory of serving and ex-Service people and their families and dependants, and was founded in 1921.
|
