Rehearsals are also underway for Back to the Front’s production “Only Remembered”, and evening of songs and stories about Abbots Langley in the Great War. Performances will take place at the Henderson Hub at Abbots Langley at 7.30pm on Weds, Thurs, Fri, 7,8,9 and at 2.30pm on Sat 10 November. This is a FREE show. Tickets should be booked in advance by phoning the Henderson Hub 01923 601280 or by calling in to Signature Estates Abbots Langley Office
The first rehearsal of Back to the Front’s Great War production, “Spirit, Service & Sacrifice” took place at the Bedmond Village Hall. The cabaret-style evening which includes a World War Supper will premiere at 7.30 on Saturday 3 November and features an evening of songs, poems and monologues recreating Bedmond of 1918. Guests are encouraged to dress in period costume. This is a FREE event, but tickets must be booked in advance by email bedmondvillagetaskforce@gmail.com or phone Bedmond Village Hall on 07401 331302.
The first batch of clay tiles that were created by local school children as part of the Back to the Front Mud & Memorials project have successfully been fired. We are grateful for the assistance of Bedford Modern School who have provided the use of their kiln for the firing of the tiles. The fired tiles will now be glazed and re-fired before they can be installed as part of the two new War memorials being created by the project.
The Abbots Langley Tough Ten Road Race for 2018 has partnered with the Back to the Front Project. This year the medals presented to every runner included the project’s Tommy Langley logo and an inscription commemorating the 100th anniversary of the end of the Great War. Three descendants of Great War soldiers from Abbots Langley were present at the finish line to present the medals. From left to right Roy Barnes, Paul Quarman and Richard Baldwin.
Site Surveys of locations have now been completed for the installation of the two new War Memorials as part of the Mud & Memorials Project. Local schoolchildren have created over two hundred clay tiles to commemorate the men from the area that were killed in the Great War.
60 walkers attended the repeated Abbots Langley Great War Walk on Sunday 9th September. The Walk covered areas of the Village not included in the original Walk and visited the areas of Trowley Bottom, Leavesden Asylum and the St Pancras Orphanage School. Descendants of Abbots Langley soldiers came on the Walk and as a result new photos of Abbots men have been discovered, including this photograph of Arthur Chalk supplied by Debra Steel-Chalk.
Abbots Langley Tough Ten Race is the latest local organisation to join in with the Back to the Front Project’s commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the end of the Great War. This year each runner will be awarded a medal depicting the Project’s Tommy Langley emblem. The Tough Ten will take place at 10.30 on Sunday 7th October at the Manor House Gardens, Abbots Langley, WD5 0AP. Over the past 36 years the Race organisers have distributed many hundreds of thousands of pounds to local beneficiaries. Tickets can be purchased from Langley Travel, High Street Abbots Langley for the Pre-Race Curry Night at the Abbots Tandoori on 24th September.
In May 2018, Window Stickers and Soldiers’ Stories were distributed to the houses in Abbots Langley where from the Project’s research it was confirmed that a Serviceman of the Great War had lived. When Soldiers enlisted, many just gave a road name rather than an exact house number. Back to the Front has now associated this group of soldiers with the remaining houses in the centre of the village and has distributed redesigned Window Stickers and randomly selected Soldiers’ Stories to over 100 houses where it is highly likely that a Serviceman lived in every property. It is hoped that the occupiers of these houses will “adopt” the soldier mentioned in the stories that have been distributed.
Back to the Front held their first Great War Walk around Bedmond on August Bank Holiday Monday. 130 people joined the Walk to hear the stories of the men from the village and their exploits in the First World War. Two groups chose the longer of two walks, and as well as visiting key places along the village High Street, also walked out to Serge Hill, whilst three groups kept mainly to the centre of the village. Over 100 men from Bedmond served in the Great War. At the end of the Walk an excellent spread of refreshments was provided by the Friends of the Tin Church.
Planning is well underway for the Back to the Front Bedmond Great War Walk which will take place on Bank Holiday Monday 27th August 2018. This free event will leave the Bedmond Village Hall from 2.00pm. The Walk will visit the spots in and around the village where the soldiers lived one hundred years ago and the Walk Leaders will tell the stories of the Bedmond men that served in the First World War. Following the Walk refreshments will be available at the Village Hall.