A book exploring the history of residents in Holt and life in the village is due to be released in the coming months.
The book entitled A Year To Remember explores the history of the village, including stories about local people who died in both World Wars, facts about the war memorial and local villagers’ stories about their ancestors.
It also documents the community-wide project where volunteers have crocheted nearly 7,000 poppies since January this year to form a cascade that will be draped from St. Katharine’s Church tower from 1st November to 18th November to commemorate Remembrance. For a few hours after dark, the cascade will be lit by local company Light Fantastic, and there is due to be a cascade celebration concert on Sunday 3rd November.
The book has been written by a local business, from You to Me, which wanted to produce the book after following the villagers’ journey making the poppies for the cascade.
“The company said they would like to put a book together about Holt, a bit of the history and what we have done over the last year,” said Holt resident Helen Gray, who is also the organiser of the poppy cascade project. “I have sent them photographs of the cascade from the very start in January right the way through to now. We have also included the stories of some local people who are on the war memorial and included the history of local people in the village. It is a real mix.”
“People have been really interested in the book. When it is on display in the church, there will be blank pages in the back so people can share their stories if they have not done so already. Then, around January time, we can look at printing more copies,” Helen added.
The book will be on display in the church on Sunday 3rd November at the cascade celebration concert which is due to feature performances by the West Wilts Good Afternoon Choir, the Warminster Military Wives Choir and Holt’s very own Jon Monie.
Pictured: Holt volunteers making poppies for the cascade
