THIS year’s Nailsworth Festival will commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of WWI with special war and peace themed events.

A Great War exhibition, funded with a Heritage Lottery Grant, will show at The Comrades Club from Thursday to Saturday, 10am till 4pm. Based on the research of archive volunteers related to the war memorials in Nailsworth and the surrounding area, it will include research findings, artefacts and memorabilia from the 1914 – 1918 conflict.

Nailsworth Quakers are also hosting an exhibition - War and peace building: The Quaker response past and present – at the Quaker Meeting House, from Saturday until May 25. Produced by the University of Manchester’s Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute, it focuses on the work of the Friends Ambulance Service and the Friends Relief Service.

Two pertinent theatre productions are being staged at The Comrades Club: Tommy Atkins and the Canary Girl on Friday at 7.30pm, and Talbot House on Saturday at 7.30pm.

Tommy Atkins and the Canary Girl is a play based on the lives of workers at the Gloucester munitions factory and local soldiers during WW1. It is suitable for children over 11 years of age.

Talbot House is the story, in words and music, of a First World War haven for soldiers.

Talbot House in Poperinge, Belgium, a few miles behind the front line, became a home from home for thousands of allied troops, where they enjoyed some comforts and remembered the men they really were. It is suitable for a family audience.

On Saturday, also at The Comrades Club, military historian Andy Robertshaw, of Time Team fame, will be demonstrating the use of WW1 kit. Plus author of WW1 books, Martin Middlebrook will be giving talks at 11am and 2.30pm.

Wednesday, May 21 sees the screening of the film Severn and Somme, which tells the story of the life of Ivor Gurney, who was a soldier in WW1, at St Dominic’s School Hall, Woodchester at 7.30pm. Poets Charles Thompson and Richard Devereux will present accompanying WWI poetry and music.

Further via: www.nailsworthfestival.org.uk or visit the Town Information Centre.