A LOCAL history event in Cinderford, which formed part of the national Heritage Open Days, shed light on many different aspects of the town’s past.

It’s the third year the history and memorabilia days have run and, according to town councillor and event organiser, Mark Turner, it was a great success.

The council offices at the Belle Vue Centre were open all day on Saturday with displays from various organisations while St Stephen’s church housed displays all weekend.

“I was at the Belle Vue Centre on Saturday and we had a steady flow of people all day with sometimes 40 people at a time,” said Cllr Turner.

“We also held events on Saturday and Sunday at St Stephens Church. I think it helped to combine the event with the Heritage Open Days this year as it generated more interest from people passing through or visiting the town. People like to see old stuff and lots of visitors brought things along with them to discuss. The man who saved the town hall clock came along to talk about it and will be bringing it back to the town in the next couple of weeks.

The event included archives from the Review’s sister paper the Forester, which was founded in the Dean in the 19th century and displays from East Dean Grammar School and Double View School – now Forest High School. There was a display about the demolition of the chimney at Broadmoor brickworks last year and lots of town council archives.

“I brought along my own collection of records from former councillor Frank Beard which includes lots of town council documents and old election material,” Cllr Turner added.

“We also live streamed the event through the town’s web cam. We’re already planning an event for next year and we’re talking to Dean Heritage Centre about a display on unseen Cinderford.

“It was a brilliant event and it was a pleasure to be part of it. I’d like to thank everyone who brought displays or turned up to the event and to thank the many other councillors who helped out at the event.”

Chris Witham, parish councillor and church warden, added: “The last couple of events in the council chamber have been packed with exhibits, so the church offered up space. We had hundreds of back issues of the parish magazine going back to 1893 and a wrought iron chest hundreds of years old used to store church papers. There were displays about the life and work of 20th century poet, Leonard Clark and about the Packer gates in front of the church.

“Displays form the Belle Vue centre came over for Sunday too. It was a really great event with around 100 people as well as the church congregations visiting the church over the weekend.”