Project team invited to Buckingham Palace

The Worcestershire World War One Hundred Project was recognised at the highest level when Project Leaders Adrian Gregson and Gillian Roberts were invited to one of the Royal Garden parties at Buckingham Palace.

Worcestershire's Lord Lieutenant Lt Col Patrick Holcroft's nomination was in recognition of the commemorative activity programme which was led by Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service.

Adrian and Gillian were privileged to join people representing their communities and activities and chatted with the Duchess of Gloucester and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex about the Project.

Adrian Gregson said: “It was a huge honour for the project to be recognised with an invitation to one of the Royal Garden parties and we were delighted to be able to attend on behalf of all the Worcestershire World War One Hundred project partners. Our programme of commemoration has reached all parts of Worcestershire and enabled us to remember and share the stories of the thousands of people whose lives were affected by the Great War fighting for King and Country, it seems fitting that our project ended which such a wonderful invitation.”

Gillian Roberts said: “Our project has focused on telling the stories from home, and the Front, during the First World War from exhibitions, one off events and through creating trails which enable people to follow the story of World War One across Worcestershire. I was honoured to accompany Adrian to Buckingham Palace and to represent all those who have been involved in our shared project.”

The Worcestershire World War One Hundred project which received the largest Heritage Lottery Fund First World War Grant outside London, included exhibitions, services, children's activities, film screenings, schools visits and created education resources, produced legacy trails in print and online, published a daily diary of events in county newspapers, supported local commemorative projects, and collected the documents and stories of the county in the People's Collection.

The Project has commemorated key battles, individual soldiers, linked with towns in France and Belgium, investigated the work on the Home Front, in the Vale of Evesham and in munitions factories in Redditch and Worcester, and recorded details of war memorials.

Over 60 people have volunteered and over 100,000 have participated or visited WWW100 activities all across the county, as well as working with veteran associations of conflicts since 1918.