A BRITISH Armed Forces veteran who served at Catterick during National Service 60 years ago will be front and centre of an innovative UK-wide new heritage project.

John Cresswell, who died aged 84 last year, is one of 18 former servicemen included in a National Lottery-funded project called National Service Remembered.

It has been 60 years since National Service ended in the UK and the campaign, run by the not-for-profit organisation Same but Different, captures an important period of the country’s cultural history through the eyes of the men who served.

John lived in Liverpool during the Blitz and served in North Yorkshire after first being conscripted in 1954.

Son Michael Cresswell, 53, is watching his father’s story be brought to life and says the project, powered by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, provides a priceless insight into a key period of Britain’s past.

Mr Cresswell, who lives in Chester, said: “Same but Different have done an amazing job.

“We are so proud to see our father relive his experiences as a young man through the eyes of the camera so generations can enjoy the story our father shared.

“It's amazing to see dad share his life experiences as a young man and we are blessed to truly understand what that was like through his eyes and words.

“It’s something I don't think we would have known without your help in bringing this out for us and everyone to see.”

Ceridwen Hughes, photographer and founder of Same but Different, has combined striking portraits, video interviews and written narratives to bring alive conscripts’ experiences in one powerful exhibition.

She added: “We are really grateful to the players of the National Lottery who funded this project along with the Armed Forces Covenant Fund.”

High-profile stars were far from exempt from conducting National Service, with Brian Blessed, Michael Caine and Anthony Hopkins among some of the household names to serve.

And television veteran Johnny Ball, who served in the RAF during the 1950s, is supporting the Lottery-funded National Service Remembered campaign after describing his time serving as ‘the making of him’ at the end of last year.

National Lottery players raise £30m every week for causes and play a critical role in supporting projects and communities during these challenging times.

John Hughes, 84, who hails from Glan Conwy and now lives in Abergele, is another veteran involved in the project, which is run by Same but Different, who use the arts for positive social change and to highlight inequalities and bring communities closer together.

Their stories are being showcased with the help of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, which uses money raised by The National Lottery to inspire, lead and resource the UK’s heritage.

The Fund creates positive and lasting change for people and communities John, who went on to drive wagons after he had completed his National Service, says the project is bringing the memories of the ‘best time of his life’ flooding back.

John, who was first conscripted in 1953, said: “It was interesting to hear other stories and to hear what they've been through.

“It’s good to let young people know there was such a thing and for people to realise what we had to go through.

“We did our training and then you were posted either to a cavalry regiment or to a tank regiment, and you had a choice in what you wanted to go to.

“It was the best time of my life. I wanted to do my National Service - my two brothers had been in and I just wanted to get out and travel a bit. The training was hard, but I still felt that it was the best thing I did.”