THE TWO Colne Commemorates Events in 2014 and 2016, featured talks, films, re-enactments, folk music, brass bands, Knurr and Spell, crafts and period catering, as well as a screening of the iconic 1916 film, The Battle of the Somme. This Saturday, the Town Council is mounting a Colne Commemorates Exhibition at the Town Hall.
Chairman of Colne Town Council, Cllr. Sarah Cockburn-Price said: “There was so much happening that it is likely that even people who attended both events missed something. We are immensely grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund whose extra funding allowed us to fund the information boards and our outreach programme to local primary schools. We thought it sensible to bring together the films, pictures, artwork and information boards in one place, so we are assembling everything in the Council Chamber this Saturday, 12th November from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.”
The Exhibition is also an opportunity to enter the Town Hall through its double front doors, enjoy its grand main staircase and savour the atmosphere of its unspoilt late Victorian Council Chamber.
Eleanor Jolley, who was responsible for co-ordinating both Colne Commemorates events, said: “Having started this Colne Commemorates project with the patriotic fervour of 1914, we have now shown the more sober reality of the start of the Battle of the Somme, which affected so many men and families from East Lancashire. We shall complete the story in 2018 when we look at the centenary of the Armistice and the end of the War. This Exhibition tells the story of the Home Front in Colne and I think throws up quite a few surprises.”
The following day, Colne will join together to remember the Fallen at its War Memorial on Albert Road. The Parade is organised by The Royal British Legion, but Colne Town Council has undertaken to provide the buffet at Colne Legion on Keighley Road. The Parade will assemble at Colne Legion at 10.15 a.m. and the Act of Remembrance begins at the War Memorial at 10.50 a.m. Both the Mayor of Pendle, Cllr. Rosemary Carroll and Andrew Stephenson MP will be attendance. Cllr. Neil Butterworth will lay the wreath on behalf of Colne Town Council.
The third and final event in the Colne Commemorates series will be held on 4th August, 2018. There will be a parade, activities, drama and music throughout the town all day to commemorate the last 100 days of The Great War.