TENBURY is preparing for what is likely to be its biggest weekend for many years.

For two days the town expects to attract thousands of visitors for major events on a national scale.

On Saturday (August 2) the biggest event of the year will take place with the 156th Tenbury Agricultural Show.

Then on Sunday the mood will change as the town stages one of the most ambitious commemorations that it has ever staged. Organisers are hoping that the weekend will be on the scale of the '1941 – 70 Years On' event that was staged three years ago.

A group has been working for the past 12 months to prepare a commemoration of the 100 years since the start of the First World War that took the lives of many young men in Tenbury and the Teme Valley as well as changing the area forever.

There will be an exhibition in the Pump Rooms through the weekend that will include letters, photographs and other documents from the time as well as other memorabilia. It will also feature the work of students from Tenbury High School that have undertaken many projects in connection with the Great War.

On Sunday (August 3) attention will switch to the Burgage for seven hours of events starting at 10am including a county rally by the Royal British Legion.

Remembering the sacrifice of those from the area who died will include a Drumhead Service, poetry readings and the creation of a Garden of Remembrance.

The TS Sherbourne Band will play and the Western Front Association is taking part as are the Worcestershire Regiment that will show many artefacts.

During the day there will be four shows of the film ‘The Price of Freedom’ at the Regal Cinema with people watching the show invited to make a donation.

But there will also be a lighter side to the day with the Royal British Legion leading a ‘sing along’ with the music associated with the time including soldier’s song like ‘Pack Up Your Troubles.’

A display of vintage vehicles is also included in the programme of events.

There will be stalls and food available with a bouncy castle to give children something to do.

It is hoped that the whole town will take part in the weekend and that many shops and other premises will be dressed as they would have looked in August 1914. The weekend will seek to emulate the atmosphere of three years ago when there was a 70 years on re-enactment of what Tenbury was like in 1941 during the darkest days of the Second World War.

As the light fades on Monday evening it is hoped that as many people as possible in Tenbury will join the national ‘lights out’ initiative.

Then at 10.45pm there will be a wreath laying ceremony and the playing of the last post at the war memorial in the grounds of St Mary’s Church. This will be followed at 11pm by a special service of remembrance.