FURTHER details have been announced for the rededication of Ledbury's Recreation Ground this Friday, March 23, to honour the sacrifices of local people during the First World War.

A formal Rededication Service at Recreation Ground, a designated war memorial site, will take place on at 11.30 am this Friday and the Service will be led by the Chaplain to the Royal British Legion Ledbury, Reverend Bill Mackenzie.

There will be a number of dignitaries in attendance, including the High Sheriff of Herefordshire, Lady Jane Lisvane; Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Herefordshire Nathaniel Hone; the Vice Chairman of Herefordshire Council, Councillor Phil Edwards; Bill Wiggin MP, and the Mayor of Ledbury, Councillor Elaine Fieldhouse.

Also in attendance will be representatives of John Masefield High School and Ledbury Primary School, and other community organisations in Ledbury.

The event has been organised by Ledbury Town Council, and a spokesman said: "This Recreation Ground has been used by countless generations of Ledbury’s children and adults and we all enjoy using it today. When the Recreation Ground was recently threatened by developers, action was taken by the Town Council to preserve the ground in perpetuity as a war memorial site under the Centenary Fields project."

But the ground has also been a designated war memorial site since a short while after the First World War, when it was purchased to provide a green space for local children.

The council spokesman added: "After the First World War the people of Ledbury wanted to remember those from the community who had fallen in the conflict. It was decided that an appeal be made for funds to erect a war memorial in the High Street and also to provide a playing ground for children.

"When the Upper Hall Estate was put up for sale in July 1919, and before the auction took place, Lot 16, near the Ledbury Electric Light Works, was purchased at the reduced price of £400. The site was said to be 'admirably situated, being close to the town, flat and of good size'."

During the service this Friday, the eighty five names of the Fallen of Ledbury in World War I will be read by a number of community representatives, including students from Ledbury Primary School and the High School. Young people will also be planting sprigs of Rosemary for remembrance.

Organisers hope that as many people as possible from the Town will attend the service.