Tag Archives: First World War

National Motor Museum Trust wins Heritage Lottery Fund Support.

23 Monday Jun 2014

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The National Motor Museum Trust, Beaulieu, will commemorate the centenary of the First World War in a forthcoming project, Caravans and Charabancs – Leisure Motoring After the First World War. The Trust has been awarded £97,200 by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to undertake this innovative project over a two-year period.

Caravans and Charabancs will explore the untold legacy of this devastating conflict, charting how accelerated social and technological developments in wartime led to a revolution in leisure motoring in the decades that followed. A programme of community events, exhibitions and social media campaigns will encourage the public to engage with previously unseen aspects of the National Motor Museum’s Designated Photographic Collection and that of The Caravan Club Collection.

HLF funding will also enable the Museum to purchase and preserve a unique private collection of over 400 historic photographs and postcards featuring charabancs, the forerunner to the long distance coach, which offered affordable day trips to the British public. This collection will be integral in telling the little-known story of the First World War’s influence on post-war leisure motoring.

“As the war ended, those that returned home often did so with new ambitions and a bonus in their back pocket. Many were introduced to motor vehicles on the battlefield, and some were inspired to put their new-found skills to good use in peacetime”, explains Curator of The Caravan Club Collection, Angela Willis.

“Ex-war vehicles and surplus parts were sold off by the government at knock-down prices. These became the building blocks of charabancs and trailer caravans, fulfilling the demand for leisure journeys into the next decade.”

The National Motor Museum’s Director of Collections Andrea Bishop said: “The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu is delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund is supporting this community-based project which enables us to participate in the First World War commemorations. We look forward to engaging with new audiences as we explore and develop our Designated Collections, and to working with all project partners, including The Caravan Club.”

For more information visit HERE

Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews

Plans to honour an epic period of history throughout 2014.

13 Wednesday Nov 2013

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The government finalises a programme of events to honour an epic period of history throughout 2014.

The plans are being coordinated the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Maria Miller, supported by the Prime Minister’s Special Representative for the centenary project, Andrew Murrison, who will present Cabinet with an update on Tuesday.

The Prime Minister said:

Remembrance Day is an important day to pay our respects to our Armed Forces and the sacrifices they have made for our country throughout the ages and across the globe. The nation owes them a debt and I hope today everyone will take the time to reflect upon that.

Next year we will commemorate one of the biggest sacrifices our Forces ever made as we mark the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the First World War. We have already announced some of the ways in which the government will be leading the tributes next year, from ensuring that school children learn about this important part of our history to protecting the memorial in towns and villages around the country which honour those who gave their lives to funding for the new First World War Galleries which will open at the Imperial War Museum London next Summer. This week Cabinet will be discussing our plans to make sure they are a fitting way to commemorate all the heroes of the First World War.

The government has contributed over £50 million of funding to support commemoration activities. The plans announced so far include:

A national series of commemorative events, starting on 4 August 2014 with: a service for Commonwealth leaders at Glasgow Cathedral; an event at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission St Symphorien Military Cemetery in Mons, Belgium; a candlelit vigil at Westminster Abbey.

Commemorative paving stones to be laid in communities where Victoria Cross recipients of the First World War were born. The first paving stone will be laid on 23 August 2014 marking the exact date that the first Victoria Crosses were won.

A £5.3 million educational programme providing the opportunity for 2 students and a teacher from every state school in the country to visit First World War battlefields and undertake research on people local to their school who fought in the war.

A Christmas Day ‘Truce’ football match on the battlefields of Flanders to commemorate the anniversary of British and German soldiers ceasing fighting to play football in no man’s land.

2,500 local war memorials to be given the opportunity to win listed building status, reflecting their historical special interest, and Liverpool War Memorial to be upgraded to a Grade I listed building.
Further projects announced include:

£34 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund, including a new £6 million community project fund to enable young people working in their communities to conserve, explore and share local heritage of the First World War.

Up to £1 million from the National Heritage Memorial Fund to support HMS Caroline, the last surviving warship from the Battle of Jutland. The ship will have a secure future in Belfast, where thousands of people will be able to visit her and learn about her unique role in the First World War.

Published:
10 November 2013

Organisation:
Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street

Topical event:
First World War Centenary

Minister:
The Rt Hon David Cameron MP

Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews