Two minute silence in Ealing on Monday 4th August

Members of the public are invited to join the Mayor on the steps of Ealing Town Hall on Monday 4 August to mark the 100th anniversary of Britain entering World War One.

Ealing’s Mayor, Councillor Tej Bagha, will be joined by dignitaries and members of the 562 Transport Squadron to observe a two-minute silence at 10am in memory of those who fought and died in the war. As part of the commemoration the Town Hall flags will be lowered to half-mast.

Those wishing to take part are asked to assemble outside the entrance to Ealing Town Hall by 9.55am.

Meanwhile poppies have been planted at sites throughout Ealing to mark the anniversary.

It is hoped they will flower each year in time for Armed Forces Day in June.

Gunnersbury Park Museum is also paying tribute to the centenary with two Arts Awards projects celebrating a very special collection of prehistoric flints which was brought back from the Somme by Major Frederick Sadler; a First World War soldier who lived in Acton.

The first of the Unearthing our First World War Heritage Arts Awards take place from Monday, 28 July to Friday, 1 August; for children aged seven to 11 years old. This session is an Explore Arts Award and is fully booked.

The following session, from Monday, 18 to Friday, 22 August; for young people aged 14 to 21 years old is a Bronze Art Award and there are still places available. To sign up, please contact Lisa D’Agostino at Lisa.D’Agostino@carillionservices.co.uk or 020 8992 2247/1612.

Children will meet a costumed character of Major Sadler who will explain the collection and talk about life in the trenches. Throughout the week children will also work with the production company Chocolate Films to create an animation about Major Sadler and his collection that will eventually be screened at Gunnersbury Park during Open House Sunday, on 21 September.

The young people taking part in the Bronze Art Award; from Monday, 18 August will work with the artist Stuart Simler to create a sculptural installation that will also form part of Gunnersbury Park’s First World War Centenary exhibition in the Orangery on 21 September.

Unearthing our First World War Heritage is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund’s (HLF) First orld War: then and now grant. HLF is also donating £4.7million to radically restore Gunnersbury Park by 2017 through its Parks for People programme.

Ealing Council leader, Councillor Julian Bell recently visited Perivale Park to see one of the poppy displays, he said:

“It was very moving to be pictured among the poppies which are such a simple and poignant reminder of the First World War.

“I am grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund for providing the funding for the Major Sadler projects. It’s important that children and young people know about the First World War and the impact it continues to have on our modern day lives. Innovative art schemes like this that encourage them to use their imagination and creativity to interpret important historical events are a really fantastic way to remember the past and foster a lifelong interest in art and learning.”

To find out more about events at Gunnersbury Park and the restoration project itself, visit www.ealing.gov.uk/gunnersbury

30th July 2014