Museum to provide showcase for special war event

Exploring Leeds and Yorkshire in the Great War, which will run from 11am to 4pm,has been organised by Leeds City Council in partnership with the University of Leeds, Yorkshire Post Newspapers and WW1 Nidderdale: Leeds Pals, POWs and the Home Front – a regional Heritage Lottery Fund project.

A host of experts will be on hand at the Millennium Square museum to listen to people’s family stories and look at items of memorabilia as part of the road show- style event, which is free to the public.

They will also discuss and take questions on a range of First World War themes in a special panel discussion.

There will be a series of talks, children’s activities and musical performances, as well as a number of displays and exhibitions throughout the day. Topics include 100 years of theatre and cinema, Yorkshire rugby in the First World War and Letters from the Front.

Other events taking place will include impromptu performances from Oh! What a Lovely War and roving poetry recitals, while youngsters can explore First World War objects and poems with guest writers Mary Cooper and Alison Glew.

In February The Yorkshire Post and the Yorkshire Evening Post launched a Legacies of War series, in partnership with the University of Leeds, and every week since we have focused on different aspects of the war, from the big battles to life on the Home Front.

Next weekend The Yorkshire Post will be exploring some of the stories that we have uncovered and visitors to the museum will be able to hear some of the letters written by soldiers being read out.

Councillor Lucinda Yeadon, Leeds City Council’s executive member for culture and skills, said: “As part of the 100 year commemorations marking the start of the First World War, we are delighted to be hosting with partners this special event at Leeds City Museum, which will offer a diverse and interesting programme of activities for people of all ages.

“It is a chance to chat and listen to experts on a wide range of different themes through a panel discussion and public talks, and take part in a road show where you can discover more about memorabilia from the conflict that may have been passed down from generation to generation in your family.”

Professor Alison Fell, who heads the University of Leeds’s Legacies of War project, said: “We are delighted to be working with Leeds Museums and Galleries on what promises to be a great opportunity to share some of the things we have learnt about the war’s many different aspects, and to showcase some of the research projects the Legacies of War team have been supporting.

“Dozens of projects will be highlighted and there will be talks with a broad appeal for people interested in the war and how it affected people from Leeds and the rest of Yorkshire.”

Questions for the panel discussion can be emailed to [email protected], or submitted on the day. Follow the event on Twitter via #YorksWW1