Local actor and comedian Hugh Dennis has teamed up with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to promote awareness of war graves here in Britain - and Buriton will be featured.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is encouraging people to remember 'the forgotten front', the 300,000 war graves here in Britain, and to discover the stories behind the names of those who gave their lives in the First World War.
Hugh Dennis, a living memory ambassador for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, has explained that he has a very personal connection with the First World War as ?both my grandfathers fought on the Western Front. My great uncles also fought and one, my great uncle Frank, died and is commemorated by the CWGC in Gallipoli, Turkey.?
?I'd urge everyone to get involved in this initiative,? he added, ?so we never forget those who died during the Great War and are buried and commemorated so close to us on the home front.?
There are four First World War graves in Buriton churchyard and they will be identified and featured as part of the community's special local history day on Saturday 24th September.
The annual 'Bygone Buriton' exhibition will take place in St Mary's Church between 11am and 4pm, with a special focus on the community's involvement in the First World War - both at home and overseas.
There will also be displays about:
- hop growing and picking - activities which transformed the parish every year
- the Buriton and Butser chalk quarries and lime works - another local industry of yesteryear
- our local school - how things have changed over the last 150 years
- changes in leisure activities - not just information about our football and cricket teams over the years, but also pheasant and rabbit shoots, early entertainments and social clubs
- how farming activity has changed - including the days of sheep rearing on the Downs
- our natural history: local birds, flowers, fungi and nature reserves.
Come along, have a look and see how much of your local history has been brought together. And please bring any old photos, newspaper articles or other information. We are always looking to find out more about life in the parish in years gone by.
If you know of anybody who might have any information or be able to help with any of our research in any way, please contact Doug Jones on 01730 231326 or use the website: www.buriton.org.uk
