War history celebrated at Chase
The history of the First World War in Cannock Chase was celebrated with more than 1,000 visitors attending a commemoration event.
Staffordshire County Council, The Cannock Chase Area of Natural Beauty Unit and partners hosted an event at the Marquis Drive Visitor Centre over the weekend to tell people about the Chase Through Time heritage project and commemorate the role of the two training camps during the First World War.
Demonstrators from around the country attended the event to tell the story of the Chase’s rich heritage while Historic England showcased some of the results of their survey results, all of which couldn’t have been achieved without the help of volunteers from the surrounding area.
Gill Heath, cabinet member for communities at Staffordshire County Council explained that the event was a great success and that the rain didn’t dampen spirits too much with initial estimates suggesting that more than 1,000 people attended the event over the weekend.
Gill said: “The event was a great success and gave people a unique chance to learn more about this important landscape and its history which we are incredibly lucky and proud to have.
"I would also like to thank all the volunteers who gave their valuable time to help make this weekend the success that it was.
“As well as a chance to find out more about the two military training camps during the Great War, people were also transported back thousands of years to see what the area was like during prehistoric times.
"As always the Birmingham Pals proved very popular and children in particular loved the Great War fighter plane and the period cinema.”
The Chase Through Time project is continuing into a second season of fieldwork and research and it is hoped will be complete early in 2018.
