Around 700 people of all ages visited Melksham Town Hall over the Remembrance weekend to see the Melksham Remembers exhibition.
They were able to discover what life was like for the people of Melksham and the surrounding area during the First World War and to find out about some of the people of the time.
A dozen volunteers have been working over the past year to piece together what was happening 100 years ago.
There were 17 information panels, photographs and information, hands-on activities such as making up a prisoner of war parcel, items from the First World War and a short film based on the newspaper report of the royal visit to Melksham in 1917.
Volunteers were on hand to tell the appreciative visitors more about what they had found out and to hear stories from those who came to see the display. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, which made the hundreds of hours doing the research worthwhile.
On Saturday 10th November, the Wiltshire Scrapstore provided hands-on fun for children making poppies and bi-planes out of scrap material. Many people said they wished it was on for longer.
Over the next few weeks there will be an opportunity to see the information panels at the following venues: Village Hall, Bowerhill 21 November; Christ Church Shaw 23 – 28 November; Church of the Holy Cross, Seend; 30 November – 7 December; and St George’s Church, Semington 8 – 9 December. Check with the venues for opening times.
Although this project to examine the First World War is coming to an end, many of the volunteers are keen to continue their research into the history of the Melksham area and its people. You can keep up to date with any further developments on the MelkshamRemembers Facebook page.
