On the day the country commemorated the ‘lights going out’ in memory of the fallen in WW1, the Friends of Brixham Library celebrated the 100 year centenary with the opening of an exhibition on The Ledge in Brixham library and new exhibits in Brixham Museum.
The Friends of Brixham Library have been instrumental in achieving £8,100 of funding from the Heritage Lottery for this project, to celebrate the centenary of the First World War and its impact on Brixham at that time.
The project has been led by Phil Trayhorn, Secretary of the Friends of Brixham Library. Under his guidance a wide group of organisations have been brought together to raise awareness of the horror of war and to commemorate local men who fought.
Jane Barnaby, Chair of the Council, cut the ribbon to unveil The Ledge – a triptych scale model showing Brixham volunteers taking the Kings shilling, their time in the Devon’s Regiment – both in the trenches and at the battle of the Somme. Finally we see a modern family reflecting on the names engraved on the Brixham war memorial. The carpet of poppies was made by local school children. Barbara Dawes, of Brixham Quilters, created the butterfly ‘postcard home’ and the oil painting backdrop was painted by Oscar Law, a Churston Grammar School student. An anthology of Remembrance poems has been compiled by youngsters at Brixham College and beautifully illustrated by Peter Archer. Dan Trezise, a year 9 student, was also present; he was chosen as the prize winning poet