Taking place soon at the Harlequin, both events are part of Reigate & Banstead Remembers, the Council's First World War Centenary commemorations.   

World War I Roadshow

This free event is a unique opportunity to find out about the family heirlooms you may have at home linked to the First World War. Find out more about those medals passed down through the family or other wartime memorabilia at our World War I Roadshow at the Harlequin Theatre in Redhill on Saturday 11 October from 1-4pm. Surrey Infantry Museum will also be there, with weapons and equipment from the Great War and happy to share their wealth of knowledge about Surrey's contribution to the war effort.  

Cllr Joan Spiers, Community and Special Projects Group Chairman, says: "This will be a thoroughly fascinating event. Please come along if you're interested in local or military history or just want to find out more about the part your family may have played in the Great War." She continues: "We're very lucky to have Ian Chatfield from Surrey Infantry Museum bring along examples of equipment from the Great War and to talk about how our local infantry prepared for and contributed to the early days of the war.”

"It’s surprising what interesting war-related items people have at home that have been passed down through their family," says Ian Chatfield, Curator of Surrey Infantry Museum, who will be taking part in the event along with other local historians. "As historians, we love to hear about the stories behind these artefacts and we hope to be able to give people more information about these important items in history."

If you’re interested in finding out more about your family war heroes, there will be an opportunity to learn how to get started in your research.


'Over by Christmas': lecture by former head of Oakwood School

Also coming soon is a lecture about the early part of the First World War by military historian Andy Thompson. Andy, a former head teacher of Oakwood School in Horley, will talk about, among other key events, the background to the war, the First Battle of Ypres, the famous Christmas Truce and planning for 1915.

Taking place at the Harlequin Theatre at 7pm, Wednesday 8 October, tickets are £5 and available to buy online from the Harlequin Theatre box office.

Find out more 

For more information about Reigate & Banstead Remembers, including downloading a copy of our booklet about the part local people played in the early days of the war, where you can sign one of our Books of Remembrance and for a list of commemorative events taking place, visit the First World War Centerary page of our website.