Led by volunteers from the local community, the project focuses on raising awareness and understanding of the impact of the war on local people and the town.

The project, which is supported by Marlow Town Council, Marlow Society and other local voluntary and community groups, will enable local people to understand the impact of the war on the town. The project will research the lives of the 800 Marlow men who fought in the war and the 200 who died. It will also research the impact on women and families in the town; the impact on employment and local businesses, such as the brewery which became a munitions factory during the war; how society and the economy changed as the war progressed; and how local sports clubs and societies responded to the war.

The project will engage all sections of the community, including schools, in the research. Talks and workshops will be held to raise awareness, and people will be trained and supported to develop research and presentation skills. People will also be encouraged to share their own stories and family histories.

The results of the research will be displayed in the town's museum and will be changed every three months over the four years. Each display will then be taken to other venues including local employers, schools, sheltered schemes and care homes. The information will also be available online through the Marlow Remembers website.

This project is starting now because the summer of 2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War. A lot of attention is being given to the war on a national level and this will be reflected locally through the research. Better understanding and recording of the local heritage will provide a lasting and appropriate tribute to those who fought and died in the conflict.

Commenting on the award, Andy Ford, Chairman of the Association said: “We are thrilled to have received the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund and are looking forward to engaging the local community in the research and the project more generally.”

Stuart McLeod, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund South East, said: “The impact of the First World War was far reaching, touching and shaping every corner of the UK and beyond. The effects also reached many different aspects of family and community life and we’re pleased to support Marlow Remembers as they explore and share these stories and create a lasting memory of their community during the conflict.”

Notes to editors

About Marlow Remembers World War One Association

Marlow Remembers World War One Association was set up this year to commemorate the impact of the First World War on Marlow, Marlow Bottom, Little Marlow, Medmenham and Bisham.

The association includes representatives from a number of local interest groups and societies, such as the Marlow Society, Marlow Museum, Archaeology in Marlow and the Royal British Legion. Local schools are also represented on the group. We coordinated an event for primary school children in June. Four hundred children from four schools visited Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School over 4 days to view an exhibition of memorabilia from the war and listen to Mike Willoughby, a local expert on the war who was dressed in army uniform. The children were absorbed in listening to Mike talk about what life was like for soldiers and demonstrating the kit.

Other projects that the association is supporting over the next 12 months include:

• Marlow’s Heritage Day on 13 September – we will display our research and show visitors the methods we use. We hope this will encourage people to get involved in our work
• A talk organised by Archaeology in Marlow on 18 September concerning the practice trenches in Marlow and Berkhamsted
• A Remembrance weekend at Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School in November which the school is developing
• Interpretation visits to the local training trenches in the summer of 1915 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of their creation
• Support to the Council for British Archaeology initiative to identify and record heritage assets associated with the war, such as local hospitals

Further information

For further information, images and interviews, please contact Belinda Ford, Secretary of Marlow Remembers World War One Association, on 01628 481 141 or 07854 591 252 or email Belinda.ford@btinternet.com.