2019 – programme events for Ampthill Armistice100.
Past Events
22 September 2016 – Tommy’s Footprints – an illustrated talk by Stephen Hartley
WWI and the young, local volunteers who trained at the Ampthill Camp. Four of these boys are named on the Memorial Plate in St. Lawrence’s Church.
Venue: St. Lawrence’s Church in Steppingley, Bedfordshire.
Missed the talk? Click to read about the Steppingley Boys
5 November 2016 – Ampthill Fireworks
The Mayor of Ampthill, Cllr Margaret Wilson, will light the Beacon in memory of the 2,235 men who trained at the Ampthill Camp. A fantastic firework display will follow.
Beacon lit: 7:30pm
6-20 November 2016 – Tommy’s Footprints in Ampthill Great Park
Tommy’s Footprints – a poignant, temporary art installation flanked by poppies in the hollow of Ampthill Great Park. This is where, upon completion of training, the soldiers passed on their way to entrain at Ampthill Midland Station for the journey to France and Belgium.
Tommy’s Footprints will be installed a week before Remembrance Sunday. A column of 707 footprints will be stencilled in the Park, a pair for each soldier who did not return. The column will be 180 metres long. On Remembrance Sunday there will be a special parade past Tommy’s Footprints and then down The Alameda to the Cenotaph. In the days that follow the footprints will quietly fade into the ground, and disappear.
Venue: Ampthill Great Park.
All welcome – Free entry.
13 November 2016 – Remembrance Sunday Parade
10am – At the Duke of Bedford War Memorial, drumhead service and words of Remembrance by the Rector, Rev. Michael Trodden.
10:15am – Parade in Ampthill Park, past Tommy’s Footprints, along Woburn Street and then down The Alameda to The Cenotaph.
10:50am – All to be gathered by The Cenotaph.
11am – Act of Remembrance. Service with 2 minutes’ silence followed by the Reveille and laying of wreaths.
All welcome – Free entry.
18 November 2016 – Tommy’s Footprints – A Night to Remember
Venue: Parkside Hall, Woburn Street, Ampthill MK45 2HX
Starts: 2pm
Distance: about 2 miles. Please wear stout shoes and warm clothing.
Cost: £3 on the day.
Local historian John Hele will be covering Tommy`s Footprints – a look at WW1 soldiers billeted at Ampthill Park.
Cost: £1.50 which includes refreshments.
26 February 2017 – Guided Walk to find the WWI Trenching Ground
Starts: 2pm
Distance: 2-3 miles. Please wear stout shoes and warm clothing.
Cost: £3 on the day.
2 October 2017 – Bedfordshire Regiment in the Great War
The Ampthill & District Archaeological and Local History Society (ADALHS) will hear from Steve Fuller who is researching the Bedfordshire Regiment in the Great War.
Steve will chart the history of the regiment and while doing so will try to incorporate local men who served in the Regiment into his illustrated talk.
Please see some of Steve’s work: www.bedfordregiment.org.uk
Starts: 7:45pm.
Venue: Flitwick Library, Coniston Road Flitwick MK45 1QJ
Tickets: £2 for ADALHS members and £3 for visitors (payable on the door)
17 November 2017 – WWI Talk: Canadian Troops in Ampthill
by Sgt Herman Porter
Venue:Parkside Hall, Woburn Street, Ampthill MK45 2HX
19 November 2017 – Guided Walk: WWI Canadian Troops in Ampthill
Distance: 2-3 miles. Please wear stout shoes and warm clothing.
Cost: £3 on the day.
Starts: 2pm
Venue: Please gather in Ampthill Great Park at 2pm in the West Car Park. – map.
Distance: 2-3 miles. Please wear stout shoes and warm clothing.
Cost: £3 on the day.
1 July 2018 – Ampthill Armistice100 at the Ampthil Gala Day
Ampthill Armistice100 will be at the Ampthill Gala Day from 12:30. Find the footprints and visit us on the cricket outfield.
Remember Ampthill’s Fallen by sponsoring a lamp post poppy (£10). Proceeds benefit the Royal British Legion. In November the #67 poppies will be displayed on lamp posts leading into Ampthill.
At 3:30pm see Cllr Steve Addy (Mayor) unveil the WWI interpretation board which tells the story of the Ampthill Camp.
Venue: Ampthill Great Park
12-13 October 2018 – WWI Living History Encampment
The “Living History Event” gives an insight into ‘camp life’ and how WW1 soldiers were trained and lived in Ampthill Great Park.
This fits in well with the History Curriculum for WW1. See a living history group in WWI uniform work from period tents with weapons, equipment and accessories for the 1918 period.
Dates: Friday, 12th October (11:00 – 17:30)
Saturday, 13th October (10:30 – 17:00)
Venue: Ampthill Great Park
All welcome – Free entry
2018 – programme events for Ampthill Armistice100.
3-20 November 2018 – Tommy’s Footprints
See Tommy’s Footprints return to the hollow of Ampthill Great Park with #67 crosses to remember Ampthill’s Fallen, and poppies leading into town.
Tommy’s Footprints – a poignant, temporary art installation in the hollow of Ampthill Great Park. This is where, upon completion of training, the soldiers passed on their way to entrain at Ampthill Midland Station for the journey to France and Belgium.
Tommy’s Footprints will be installed on Saturday, 3rd November which is a week before Remembrance Sunday. A column of 707 footprints will be stencilled in the Park, a pair for each soldier who did not return. The column will be 250 yards long. On Remembrance Sunday there will be a special parade past Tommy’s Footprints and then down The Alameda to the Cenotaph. In the days that follow the footprints will quietly fade into the ground, and disappear.
Venue: Ampthill Great Park10 November 2018 – Zonita Community Cinema – Armistice100 double-bill
As part of Ampthill Armistice100, the Zonita Ampthill Community Cinema is pleased to show a double-bill of films on the evening of Saturday, 10th November.
Film 1 ~ The Burying Party (12A; 60 mins)
For release on 4th November 2018 and to be shown with special permission of the director. This award-winning, British film tells of Wilfred Owen returning to the Somme against the advice of his mentor Siegfried Sassoon, determined to follow his subject ‘The Pity of War’ to the very end.
Watch the trailer.
Film 2 ~ Journey’s End (12; 108 mins)
Set in a dugout in Aisne in 1918, a group of British officers, led by the mentally disintegrating young officer Stanhope, variously await their fate.
Watch the trailer.
Venue: Parkside Hall, Woburn Street, Ampthill MK45 2HX
Doors open: 6:00pm
Films start: 7pm
Tickets: £5. Early booking advised. Available from info@zonita.org.uk & http://www.facebook.com/zonita.cinema, plus on the door.
Licensed bar.11 November 2018 – Remembrance Sunday Parade
Special WWI Centenary Remembrance Sunday Parade starting by the War Memorial in Ampthill Great Park, to which everybody is invited. 9.30am for 10am.
9:30am – Please gather at the Duke of Bedford War Memorial, Ampthill Town Band play.
10am – Welcome by Cllr Stephen Addy (Mayor) and words of Remembrance by the Revd. Canon Michael Trodden.
10:15am – Parade in Ampthill Great Park, past Tommy’s Footprints, along Woburn Street and then down The Alameda to The Cenotaph.
10:50 – All to be gathered by The Cenotaph.
11am – Act of Remembrance. Service with 2 minutes’ silence followed by the Reveille and laying of wreaths.
11:15am – Parade to St. Andrew’s Churchyard where there will be a short service of remembrance.
Refreshments: Parkside Community Hall will be serving refreshments.
Travel Advice:
– On Sunday morning Woburn Street and Ampthill Town Centre will be very busy – please arrive on foot if you can.
– We suggest that cars use the A507 to approach Ampthill Great Park.
Parking:
– Please use all of the Ampthill car parks.
– Overflow parking at Ampthill Great Park, West Carpark (near the A507)
– Parking on Woburn Street will be limited so that the Remembrance Parade can pass (10:15-10:45am; 11:15-11:45am.
Disabled Access:
– Via Ampthill Great Park, West Carpark (near the A507). A Steward will direct your vehicle to park on the grass up near Katherine’s Cross.
– At the Alameda School Sports Hall which is off Woburn Street, just behind Parkside Hall (MK45 2HX). The pedestrian gate will be open to provide access to The Alameda and The Cenotaph.
11 November 2018 – Seeking Peace in the Kings Arms Garden
Ampthill Baptist Church in conjunction with The Friends of The Kings Arms Garden invite you to visit the garden on this important anniversary to commemorate the centenary of the First World War.
Throughout the garden there will be various stations, some of which will include some art installations, that will allow for remembrance, reflection, thankfulness, hope and prayer on the theme of peace. All welcome.
Time: 14:00 – 15:30
Venue: King’s Arms Garden
All welcome – Free entry
Sunday, 11th November 2018 – The Nation’s Tribute – Battle’s Over
As part of the Nation’s tribute of Battle’s Over we will light the beacon in Ampthill Great Park and then at 19:05 the bells will peel at St. Andrew’s Church.
6.30pm- The Last Post Ampthill Great Park
WWI Beacon of Light Ampthill Great Park
7.05pm Ringing Out for Peace St. Andrew’s Church
Many thanks to Ampthill Fireworks and St Andrews Church Ampthill for making this event happen.
Visitors are advised to bring a torch and wear suitable shoes and warm, waterproof clothing.
16 November 2018 – Ampthill Armistice100 | A Night to Remember
Please join us for a ‘Night to Remember.’ Our friends Ampthill Town Band open the evening and then Ste Hartley and John Hele share an illustrated insight into WWI Ampthill.
Venue: Parkside Hall, Woburn Street, Ampthill MK45 2HX
Doors open: 7pm
Starts: 7:30pm
Tickets: £5. On sale from 1st October at Ampthill Town Council (01525-404355), the Park Hub Café, Ampthill Fireplaces, Cambridge Wines and Number 14 in Ampthill.
Licensed bar.
18 November 2018 – WWI Ampthill Guided Walk
Photo by Peter Gibbs
A guided walk by John Hele and Ste Hartley to discover more about WWI Ampthill.
Photo by Peter Gibbs
Starts: 2pm
Venue: Please gather on Woburn Street at the end of The Alameda. The walk will finish in St. Andrew’s churchyard.
Distance: 2 miles. Please wear stout shoes and warm clothing.
Cost: £3 on the day. (Children free)
24 February 2019 – Guided Walk to find the WWI Trenching Ground
Back by popular request – a guided walk to discover what remains of the Trenching Ground in Steppingley Woods.
Starts: 2pm
Venue: Please gather in Ampthill Great Park at 2pm in the West Car Park. – map.
Distance: 2-3 miles. Please wear stout shoes and warm clothing.
Cost: £3 on the day.
Tommy's Footprints..... 