Shropshire Star

Welshpool WW1 display attracts 200 visitors

An exhibition of memorabilia from World War One attracted 200 visitors eager to find out more about how their town coped with the Great War.

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The exhibition was held at the Corn Exchange, Welshpool, on Saturday, and included short talks on the major battles and campaigns of the war during the afternoon.

Alan Crowe, who organised the exhibition, said: "Different things interested different people. Some were interested in the postcards, some in knowing more about particular battles which relatives were killed in.

"Children enjoyed trying on the different British and German helmets, and some were interested in knowing more about it which is a good sign. All I can do is plant seeds of interest in people and hope they go on to germinate by the person looking online for more information, watching the documentaries and so on. If only one person does this then my task has been successful."

The exhibition was part of the ongoing Welshpool Remembers commemoration of the war, which has also included a 1940s weekend and a military tattoo at Powis Castle. In the past week there have been two events as well as the exhibition, with a play about Oswestry-born war poet Wilfred Owen and his friendship with another poet, Siegfried Sassoon, performed on Saturday evening, and the laying of remembrance cross in the garden of remembrance at St Mary's Church on Monday.

On Friday a short service will be held in the town's memorial gardens at 2pm and at 7.30pm there will be a festival of remembrance with entertainment and a short service of remembrance in the town hall assembly rooms. Entry is £6 on the door or £5 in advance from the tourist information centre.

Events will culminate with the annual Remembrance Sunday parade from Park Lane to St Mary's Church this weekend. The parade will start at 10.40am, returning to the town hall around noon.

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