WITH the centenary of the end of World War I approaching, residents of a Richmondshire village are working together to make this year’s Remembrance commemoration truly special.

Individuals and groups in the village are organising a range of projects and events both to honour past sacrifices and to look to the future.

Barton’s four new bell ringers are pulling together to learn the craft to ring two new bells.

In 1920, four bells were installed in Barton Church in memory of the men of Barton who fell in WWI.

This year, two new bells have been installed – one newly-cast and the other a reconditioned bell from a Trinity House buoy. The new band of ringers are learning their craft from expert Northallerton ringers in order to ring the Barton bells on Remembrance Day.

All year, villagers have been knitting, crocheting and stitching poppies to create a commemorative vertical poppy field on the façade of the Village Hall. The original target of 100 poppies for 100 years was quickly met, with hundreds of poppies being produced.

The poppy field will be in place for the weekend of October 27 to 28, when several events take place to coincide with the service of dedication for the new bells. They range from a film show at Barton Primary School to a wartime tea and singalong at the Village Hall.

A community football match – inspired by the famous Christmas truce – is being organised at Barton Playing Field, involving both villagers and personnel from nearby Catterick Garrison. All proceeds will be divided between the Royal British Legion and Help for Heroes.