Dunsden Owen Association

Can you help us make our Wilfred Owen exhibition this weekend a really huge success?

The exhibition tells the story of Wilfred Owen and his time in Dunsden, together with an account of the impact of the First World War on this small rural community. It will feature poignant stories from the lives of local men who were sent to fight in the ‘war to end all wars’.

We need people who can provide and help serve tea and cake on the day.

We would like to include entertainment from the Shiplake Community Choir but have been unable to find an accompanist or the small fee needed if they provde one – do you know of anyone who could help?

We also need small donations to help us cover some of the other unforseen costs of the exhibition. We have already one pledge of £50 from a kind donor, but can you also help?

We expect the exhibition displays to go 'on tour' after the weekend is over. So it will be a lasting contribution.

If you might be able to help, please either reply to this or call Beth on 0118 946 1987.

With thanks, the Dunsden Owen Association committee

The finishing touches are being put to our exciting exhibition for Dunsden Village Hall, RG4 9QG on 8 to 9 November. Local schools are invited to visit by arrangement on Friday 7 November.

The exhibition tells the story of Wilfred Owen and his time in Dunsden, together with an account of the impact of the First World War on this small rural community. It will feature poignant stories from the lives of local men who were sent to fight in the ‘war to end all wars’.

Oral histories linking back to 1911-13 when Wilfred Owen was in Dunsden,  local archives, and the letters of Owen have all helped build this fascinating story. There will be a poetry corner where visitors can create their own poems, a ‘room setting’ depicting life in rural Dunsden in the WW1 period, and a children’s trail.

Emma Banks, Curator of the WWI Exhibition, whose last two projects both won the BBC’s Restoration TV programme, says ‘The Dunsden Owen Association welcomes individuals or organisations who can loan artefacts or stories about WWI that can be used as part of the exhibition. We had great success with our 13 July Mementos and Memories Day at Dunsden Village Hall, with visitors sharing their stories and material items such as medals relating to WWI.

‘We encourage anyone interested in WWI, Wilfred Owen and his poetry, or who has physical materials that can be used as part of this exhibition to get in touch and learn more about our vision and how to get involved.’

Refreshments will be available at the event. A local community choir is also hoped to be performing over the weekend. We are very grateful to all our sponsors and to those who have lent objects for the exhibition.

FLYER EXHIBITION.pdf

Feelgood Theatre's  production of Not About Heroes is to be performed at the Maison Forestière, in Ors on October 31st and you can be there as part of a special weekend tour which will also take in the WW1 battlefields nearby.

The play re-creates the story of the relationship between Siegfried Sassoon and Owen in the last year of the poet's life at this atmospheric  site on October 31st (the date of Owen's last letter home to his mother) by special invitation of Jacky Duminy the Mayor of Ors who will be there to welcome our party.

The cellar of the forester's hut where Owen spent the last nights of his life with his battalion has been preserved and his last letter home is engraved onto the wall leading down to the cellar. On the site of the memorial you can hear a recording of Kenneth Branagh reading some of Owen's poetry. We will also the visit the Sambre canal where Owen lost his life and the modest village cemetery where Owen is buried alongside all the other soldiers who lost their life on the same day.

The total cost of the trip is £285pp including meals, hotel, accommodation, a tour guide, all transport to and from Manchester or Maidstone at 10.30am on Friday October 30th and a ticket to the performance (there will be a reduction in the cost if more than 15 people book to go).  Deposits of £50 needed very soon. Write to Hazel Roy or phone her on 0161 434 5021.

Ors Trip Flyer.pdf