Film will remember the brave boys of the Evenwood area

A FILM project to recognise the Great War men of the Gaunless Valley has received a £10,000 boost.

Evenwood, Ramshaw and District History Society received the sum from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to make a film about the impact of the First World War on dale folk.

Kevin Richardson, from Evenwood, has spent years gathering archive material and stories from the time.

He will co-ordinate the project and revealed how inspiration had come from presentations by the U3A (University of the Third Age).

“We have done the book so to speak, we’ve done the website – we thought the next role for media would be film,” he said. “The U3A’s films are excellent. We think we have got enough material to take a documentary approach for our film.”

The history society has a number of enthusiasts and volunteers dotted around the north eastern reaches of the dale including Butterknowle, Etherley and Cockfield, as well as Evenwood.

Volunteers from West Auckland and St Helen Auckland are being sought too.

Mr Richardson said the project was making progress, adding that there would be displays and more research on the back of it.

The society has also held talks with The Bowes Museum and the DLI Collection, in Spennymoor, about securing the future of archive material.

Secretary of the group Jacquie Dodds was thrilled with the grant money. She said: “This is great news and we are all excited about this new project. Books, pamphlets and websites can reach only so many people.

“Hopefully by producing a film and showing it locally then later, maybe on YouTube, we can reach out to a wider audience.”

As ever, more volunteers are being sought. Group treasurer Brian Carter urged those interested to get in touch.

He said: “We still have some outstanding research to complete and help is always welcome.

“We feel strongly that the sacrifice of those who died and suffered during this terrible conflict should not be forgotten and consigned to the history books.”

The group aim to have the film ready by July next year in good time for the 100-year commemoration of end of the First World War. It hopes to show it alongside small displays in halls and schools.

If anybody would like to get involved, or has stories to tell, they are encouraged to contact Kevin Richardson at

knrichardson53@gmail.com or on 01388 834361.