A VOLUNTARY organisation has received £3,400 to commemorate the town’s role in the First World War.

Kidderminster Heritage Opportunities Group (HOGs) will organise an exhibition of artefacts, medals and local research using the Heritage Lottery Fund grant.

Colin Hill, chairman of Kidderminster HOGs, said: “We are thrilled to have received this support, which will enable us to mark the centenary of the First World War in a fitting manner.

“We hope the people of Kidderminster will find our heritage event – The People’s War 1914-1918: Kidderminster Remembers – helps to make clear the impact this terrible conflict had on the people of the town.”

The event, on Saturday, September 13, at Kidderminster Town Hall, will feature the work of local historians Sally Dickson and Don Gilbert, while family historian Gay Hill will lead sessions on how to research relatives who fought in the war.

Entertainment from the period will be presented by the Rose Theatre and demonstrations of life during the war will be put on by Birmingham Pals re-enactment society.

Sixth form students will be investigating archive copies of The Shuttle written during the war years to present.

Members of the public are invited to include their items.

The project will continue beyond the day, with research, undertaken in partnership with pupils from local schools, into the 672 names on the war memorial in Kidderminster.