FIBIS Blog

Heritage Open Day 2018 - Suffolk Record Office

Heritage Open Day – India related talks

17 Aug | News,

Heritage Open Day 2018 - Suffolk Record Office Bury St EdmundsHeritage Open Day – Bury St Edmunds

Suffolk Record Office, Bury St Edmunds, are including a couple of India related talks as part of their Heritage Open Day event on 8 September 2018. One of the talks is “ Poppy Fields and eBay: using WWI memorabilia to trace ancestry”- by FIBIS Trustee, Geraldine Charles and the other is a short 10 minute talk on  Princess Sophia Duleep Singh by Sarah Doig.

All talks and events will be free to attend and although there is no need to book in advance, it is advisable to  book in advance to avoid disappointment. Please contact Suffolk Record Office in Bury St. Edmunds to reserve a place.

Event details

Exhibition

08 September 2018             10.00 – 16.00

At this time of commemoration, Suffolk Record Office will be highlighting archives that tell the story of the Home Front in West Suffolk. Discover the stories of those who were affected by war locally through letters, photographs, newspapers, diaries, and other original archives. Listen to accounts of the time and find out how people celebrated the coming of peace.

There will also be craft activities for children to take part in (recommended for 5 years and above).

Extraordinary Women

08 September 2018

This was also a period of great change for women who played vital roles both at home and on the Front Line. To celebrate, local historian Sarah Doig will be hosting 10 minute talks throughout the day, each one focussing on an ‘extraordinary woman ‘.

11:15     Mary Beale       12:45     Princess Sophia Duleep Singh     13:45     Norah Lofts     15:15     Sue Ryder

1-hour talks which highlight the enduring legacy of the conflict

10.00 – 11.00 “ Images and Legacy of the Great War from Original Artwork”- Robert Butterworth

Through the medium of over 40 specially commissioned paintings, by the internationally renowned illustrator Mr. Geoff Pleasance, Robert Butterworth will give a two part presentation.  Part one highlights some of the outstanding events of WW1. Part two is devoted to the enduring impact The Great War had on British Society.

11.30 – 12.30  “ The Legacy of War Memorials”- Gwyn Thomas

Explore the legacy of War Memorials through a talk presented by Gwyn Thomas, former curator at The Regimental Museum. He will look at the different styles of town and village memorials and consider both those erected by organisations to commemorate their members, and by families to remember their loved ones.

14.00 – 15.00  “ Poppy Fields and eBay: using WWI memorabilia to trace ancestry”- Geraldine Charles

In the afternoon FIBIS trustee Geraldine Charles will talk about how she is commemorating those who served in The Great War. She was inspired by seeing items of WW1 memorabilia for sale on eBay. This gave her the idea to buy items for use as a starting point for family history research.   Geraldine hoped to inspire others to use their own objects to learn more about their past owners. The original talk was for the Families in British India Society, so with many of the items there is an India link. Eventually Geraldine hopes to find homes for her items, to ensure their preservation for the future. She will also read some of Rudyard Kipling ‘s WW1 poetry during her talk.

Full details of this Heritage Open Day event can be found on the Suffolk Record Office website  https://www.suffolkarchives.co.uk/events/heritage-open-day-bury-st-edmunds/