November saw a flurry of events, all of which were very successful and engaging to the community. The WW1 and Dunsden exhibition in the Village Hall saw over 400 visitors, including some families of the village men whose names appear on the War Memorial. Children from Caversham Park Primary and Sonning Primary visited the exhibition, which included a poetry corner and a period room setting, as well as fascinating artefacts and information-packed hanging banners. Tea and cake was available all weekend, to be enjoyed over period newspapers or a book of Wilfred Owen poetry. What more could you want?!

It is hoped the exhibition will be repeated in 2018, and many thanks to Emma Banks, David Woodward and Beth Timms for their dedicated work on it. Aspects of the exhibition can be borrowed – please contact us if you are interested.

‘Letters to My Mother’ was the title of the concert written by John Bodman, and held in All Saints Church, Dunsden, to an audience of 150. Many members of the community were drawn in to read, act, recite poetry, as Wilfred’s time from Dunsden to war was recounted. His presence was felt in the very church he worked in, as the story of his life and death unfolded.

We had a party from France join us for the weekend, including Jackie Duminy, the Mayor of Ors and unstinting supporter of Wilfred Owen. With him were Benoit Mission, Chair of the French Wilfred Owen Society, and Damien Grant of Lille University.

Members of the Dunsden Owen Association were invited to celebrate the friendship link with the French with Sunday dinner at Coppid Hall, home of Lord and Lady Phillimore. The fare was wonderfully English and did us proud.

Finally, Where Then Shall We Start?, an Outrider Anthems play by Jennifer Leach was performed at the Queen’s House, Royal Maritime Museum, Greenwich. The work was well received, and was very generously supported by Lord and Lady Phillimore. www.wherethen.org