In the autumn of 2014 the Wiveliscombe Civic Society was lucky enough to secure a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund for The Wiveliscombe Children of the Great War project , which will focus on the children of the town, as they lived 100 years ago, and now. Previously unseen records from the primary school alongside baptismal records and other genealogical resources will build a picture of family life in Wiveliscombe during and after the First World War.
The project, co-ordinated by Suzie Grogan and Pauline Homeshaw M.B.E, Chair of the Civic Society, will enable children in the town to discover the memories and heritage of the people whose families lived through the First World War. Many of these families have been part of the Wiveliscombe community for generations and still have descendants in the town. The children will research the war’s history, visit the Somerset Heritage Centre, graveyards, the recreation ground and the local care home to create a commemorative book containing their findings, and the results of an art competition.
With help from local historians, the information gathered will be the basis for the book and this will also lead to the creation of a mosaic to be sited in the centre of town. Information will also be recorded by the children to be archived for future generations to listen to but also for playing out on our community radio station, 10 Radio.
It promises to be a lovely project that will offer a lasting legacy for the children of the town, now and in the future.