[Doug]

Originally Posted by Gayle

I put in a funding bid to the Heritage Lottery to fund an educational programme and pack but it got refused. I think they felt it was too localised and so not 'big' enough a project to fund. Shame, I agree with you Doug that it is only by teaching the reality of war that we can hope to avoid it in the future.

Write to them again and tell them to get a grip. It’s not just about the Accrington lads that died on the 1st. It’s a National tragedy that echoes throughout our lives. It was also a Multi National and Multi Cultural tragedy as many Nations fought with or along side our troops in the Great War.

Yes Accrington will always hold a special “Localised Relationship” with the Somme, but what they are missing is that this is about Community. By funding an educational programmeabout the AccringtonPals they would also be creating a template that would serve all those towns and villages whose people’s lives changed because of what was a world conflict. Community education is fundamental to going forward in this country and Communities are by there very nature are localised.