Lest We Forget, Hollingworth

Local community organisation 'Friends of Hollingworth' received a £26,700 grant towards repair costs to the Hollingworth War Memorial, and for a 'Lest We Forget' programme of activities and events to improve the village's understanding of World War One. From funding received via the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the project meant we could focus on the complete renovation and re-dedication of the Grade Two-listed War Memorial, alongside a variety of community-led heritage activities designed to commemorate and remember the fallen soldiers of Hollingworth and their families. A 'Friends of Hollingworth' sub-group of four volunteers worked with partners Tameside MBC, War Memorials Trust, Historic England and Hollingworth Primary school, other professionals and many local volunteers. Using photographs, census and military records, our research created a permanent record of Hollingworth's fallen soldiers, which was made publicly accessible in book form and by way of an online interactive archive. Through completion of activities in their 'A Local Hero' Arts Award logbook and working with volunteers, 'interference-art', Tameside Local Studies & Archives and Portland Basin Museum , these all helped primary school children to develop new knowledge and understanding of World War One. We achieved 'Arts Award: Discover' accreditation through our hands-on work on conservation and working with artists. Dozens of village people, including members of the local Women's Institute and primary school students, produced knitted poppies. These were subsequently displayed around the War Memorial on Remembrance Day 2018, and thereafter together with plaques that showed a village 'poppy trail' identifying the homes of local fallen soldiers. Using information extracted from historical records, anecdotes,personal stories and student artwork, a special Book of Remembrance was created and presented to the village Church. Our local libraries also traced the development of the project from inception to conclusion. A permanent project Interpretation Board was created and installed adjacent to the War Memorial - featuring illustrations taken from children's artwork, sound effects and recordings linked to the website via a QR code.