Remembrance performances to be held at Fort
By Connor Steel
FORT NELSON have announced that they will mark Remembrance Sunday with special performances of a poignant play entitled ‘Letters Home’; which is set to detail the story of how two billion letters were all sorted, carried and delivered by the Post Office during the First World War which ran from 1914-1918.
Three individual performances will take place throughout the day on November 13 by the ‘Tell Will Time Theatre’ company, the first starting at 11:30am following the national two minute’s silence at 11am. The show is due to last an hour in length with people further able to watch at the times of 1pm and 2:30pm.
‘Letter’s Home’ will furthermore document the influences offered by the Post Office during war years as a main employer of women at this extremely uncertain period in history, alongside providing a vital link of communication between the personnel fighting on the battle fields and their loved ones back home.
And the choice of venue is particularly poignant as Fort Nelson, based on Portsdown Hill, played a huge role in both World Wars. This site was used as a barracks for troops waiting to be deployed to the front line in the First (1914-18, and then an anti-aircraft ammunitions supply depot in the Second (1939-45).
The Fort’s Public Engagement Manager, Elizabeth Puddick, said: “Letters Home is a personal account of the First World War and tells the extraordinary stories of ordinary people at war. Fort Nelson is a fitting place to commemorate Remembrance Sunday because of its connections with both (the) World Wars.”
Potential visitors are advised the Fort will be open to all from 10am-4pm on Remembrance Sunday with free admission to everybody, although tickets are able to book for the 3 performances and car parking is available for a small cost of £3. More information, including contact details, can be seen on this link.
PICTURED BY CATHY BROOKS: Fort Nelson will host ‘Letters Home’ on Remembrance Sunday, with the three performances on November 13 aimed at telling many stories and influences of the Post Office.
