A unique new project aimed at revealing how Derbyshire communities were affected by the two world wars has been launched.
The Derbyshire Lives through the World Wars project aims to highlight the impact of the conflicts in the county and discover how communities plan to mark the centenary of the First World War next year.
Project leader Helen Bates said: “With the centenary of the First World War and the 75th anniversary of the start of the Second World War both coming up in 2014, we wanted to focus on the experiences of Derbyshire people and how they were affected by both conflicts and their aftermath.
“All of us have relatives who experienced and played a part in this tumultuous time in history and this project is about recognising and remembering them.
“We want to share and commemorate those individual stories, rather than simply focusing on the history of that time.
“We also want to tell the untold stories by talking to people and asking them to share photographs, letters, diaries and other memorabilia.
“And we want to support communities to bring history to life in different ways, whether that’s through art, music, drama, poetry, street performance, an event focusing on a local memorial or something else,” she added.
The project, which is being funded by the Arts Council, is being run by community organisation Bright Ideas and local volunteers on behalf of Derbyshire County Council.
To find out more about the project and to get involved, call Helen on 07854466183, email helen@derbyshirelives.com, tweet @WarLives or visit derbyshirelives.wordpress.com.
Alternatively, write to Derbyshire Lives through the World Wars, Chesterfield Library, New Beetwell Street, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S401QN.
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