Now the growing popularity of the exhibition in Central Ref commemorating Manchester’s involvement in the Great War got a Civic recognition last week.
On Wednesday, the Lord Mayor Councillor June Hitchen, toured the exhibition.
She was shown round by David Harrop, who organised the display of memorabilia from his extensive collection which includes material from Miles Platting and Newton Heath which is the ward Councillor Hitchen, has represented for the last 16 years.
Also attending were the three councillors for Chorlton Park, Cllr Dave Rawson, Cllr Mandie Shilton-Goodwin, and Cllr Joanna Midgley, all of whom have shown a special interest in David’s permanent exhibition of material drawn from both world wars in the Remembrance Lodge in Southern Cemetery.
Both of these exhibitions are quite unique for not only are they drawn from one private collection and range from medals, letters, official documents and other personal items, but many have a direct link with Manchester.
And so it was fitting that one of the visitors on that day should be Helen Flanagan who discovered that some of the exhibits on display had belonged to her great uncle.
Nor has she been alone in being able to make a personal connection with In Flander’s Fields.*
Over the course of the last month and a bit other people have told David of their own links with the exhibition, making this truly an event for Manchester as well as Greater Manchester.
But given the length and the impact of the Great War, David has also added items from his collection which focus on other parts of Britain, including the bombardment of Scarborough and a scrap book compiled by a young Londoner during the early years of the war.
And it is of London that I shall close, because central to the exbition has been the George Davison Collection.
Mr Davison was born in north Manchester, grew up in Chorlton and began his married life in Hulme.
But as a member of the Royal Artillery he spent a lot of time in Woolwich and was billeted just yards from where I grew up in Eltham.
His wife also stayed briefly at that address and one of the residents signed Mr Davison's will.
All of which takes the exhibition out of Central Ref and the city to a wider place.
Location Central Ref
Pictures; The Lord Mayor’s visit, 2018, courtesy of Helen Flanagan
*In Flanders Fields will continue in Central Ref till the end of November
 |
| David and the Lord Mayor |
She was shown round by David Harrop, who organised the display of memorabilia from his extensive collection which includes material from Miles Platting and Newton Heath which is the ward Councillor Hitchen, has represented for the last 16 years.
Also attending were the three councillors for Chorlton Park, Cllr Dave Rawson, Cllr Mandie Shilton-Goodwin, and Cllr Joanna Midgley, all of whom have shown a special interest in David’s permanent exhibition of material drawn from both world wars in the Remembrance Lodge in Southern Cemetery.
Both of these exhibitions are quite unique for not only are they drawn from one private collection and range from medals, letters, official documents and other personal items, but many have a direct link with Manchester.
 |
| David with "Civic Friends" |
Nor has she been alone in being able to make a personal connection with In Flander’s Fields.*
Over the course of the last month and a bit other people have told David of their own links with the exhibition, making this truly an event for Manchester as well as Greater Manchester.
But given the length and the impact of the Great War, David has also added items from his collection which focus on other parts of Britain, including the bombardment of Scarborough and a scrap book compiled by a young Londoner during the early years of the war.
 |
| Discussing the exhibition |
Mr Davison was born in north Manchester, grew up in Chorlton and began his married life in Hulme.
But as a member of the Royal Artillery he spent a lot of time in Woolwich and was billeted just yards from where I grew up in Eltham.
His wife also stayed briefly at that address and one of the residents signed Mr Davison's will.
All of which takes the exhibition out of Central Ref and the city to a wider place.
Location Central Ref
Pictures; The Lord Mayor’s visit, 2018, courtesy of Helen Flanagan
*In Flanders Fields will continue in Central Ref till the end of November
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