Now we can forge ahead!

Fiona Helliwell, co-ordinator of the MBS Lottery Application, celebrating announcement of the grant with members of the MBS Committee and the Parish Council at the Old Forge, Park Street.
(Photo courtesy of Hinckley Times)

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has awarded a grant of £27,700 to the Market Bosworth Society to widen participation in local heritage matters and secure better connection between old and young, newcomers and established families in Market Bosworth. The award will allow Market Bosworth Society to establish a virtual on line heritage centre, to prepare, exhibit and publish an oral history of the town, and to design and publish a Town Trail and Conservation Area Statement. In addition, many old maps and photographs will be professionally restored and preserved for future reference.

The project will start in September and runs for two years. One of the first tasks will be to start interviewing local people to learn about the life and times of Market Bosworth past and present. Commenting on the award, Glynis Oakley said:

“ It's marvellous to think that the history of Market Bosworth and the recollections of its residents will be permanently recorded for future generations, and I am proud to be part of the team that is working to achieve this. We are hoping to provide a permanent record of how a small market town faced up to the challenges of one of the most turbulent centuries in this country's history. We are grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund for making this work possible, and I want to thank all our volunteers and partners for their hard work and ongoing support."

Explaining the importance of the award, Emma Sale, Heritage Lottery Fund regional manager for the East Midlands, said:

"This is a fascinating project that will create a unique record of Market Bosworth's rich and complex history. We're delighted the Heritage Lottery Fund grant will enable local people of all ages to get involved in recording and learning about their own heritage."