Between 10pm and 11pm on 4 August 1914 Britain and the World was in it’s final hour of peace for over four long years.

This time one hundred years ago, Britain was waiting for Germany to reply to the last chance of peace. It had been delivered earlier that night by the ambassador in Berlin, Edward Goschen, who left the embassy by the back door so he wouldn't be seen crying.

Sir Edward Grey, the foreign secretary, told parliament on 3 August that war was coming. He said: "The lamps are going out all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime."

To commemorate the lives lost and sacrifices made, at exactly 100 years to the hour that Britain joined the First World War, public buildings across Craven will join the UK-wide Lights Out event, along with national institutions such as the Houses of Parliament and the BBC, to turn off their lights from 10pm to 11pm on 4 August, leaving on just a single light or candle for a shared moment of reflection.

Amongst the public buildings in Craven taking part are Skipton Town Hall, Skipton library, Glusburn Institute, the Folly (Settle), and Settle Tourist Information, where information about the event and how the public can get involved will be on display.

Councillor Simon Myers, Lead Member, says: “By transforming the appearance of public buildings across Craven, we hope that the public will get involved in this memorial by lighting a single light or candle in their own home, and spending some time in thought remembering all those who were involved in the conflict.”

The project is being organised by 14-18 NOW, the official cultural programme for the First World War Centenary Commemorations and complements the candlelit vigil service to be held in Westminster Abbey from 10pm to 11pm on 4 August.

Craven’s contribution to the event is being co-ordinated by the Craven and the First World War project, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), which is planning a series of events to mark the centenary in the Craven district.

Project Officer, Rob Freeman, says of the event: “The Lights Out memorial event will provide a haunting and poignant echo of Sir Edwards Grey’s famous remark that he made on the eve of war about the lamps going out over Europe, ushering in one of the darkest periods in our history. It is an opportunity 100 years later for every member of every community to have their own personal thoughts about what the outbreak of the First World War means to them.”

Amongst other events planned on 4 August is a peace vigil being held by the Grassington Peace Group which will begin in Grassington market square from 11pm to 12pm, and then move to outside Skipton Town Hall from 2pm to 3pm. The group are hoping that as many people as possible will be able to join them on this silent vigil which will take place under the message of 'No more war'.

Notes to editors

The Craven and the First World War project is a HLF-funded project which is planning a series of events, exhibitions and performances to mark the centenary in the Craven district.

The project involves a collection of community-focused organisations including Craven Museum and Gallery, Skipton Town Council, Ermysted’s Grammar School, Aireville School, The Museum of North Craven Life (Settle), North Yorkshire County Council Library and Community Services, and Craven’s Part in the Great War.

First World War Centenary Partnership Programme
14-18 NOW is a member of the First World War Centenary Partnership and an independent programme hosted within the Imperial War Museum.

The First World War Centenary Partnership was established by IWM (Imperial War Museums) in 2010 and to date has over 2,500 members from across 45 countries. The partnership is presenting a collective programme of activities and events to mark the centenary, developed at grassroots levels. This diverse and far-reaching programme has been developed to reflect how people want to remember, commemorate and debate the conflict in their own communities, in a way that is meaningful for them.  1914.org is the official website for the First World War Centenary Partnership. Throughout the centenary new events and activities will be added each week to the events calendar, produced in partnership with Culture 24.

Further information

Rob Freeman, Craven and the First World War Project Officer on tel: 01756 706 225

Regional Press Enquiries: Anna Christoforou on tel: 07818 035 690 or email: anna@annachristoforou.com.