Changing the way we remember?

Amid the many events to commemorate the First World War, one of the most visually striking is surely the poppy installation at the Tower of London. The mass of red ceramic poppies, individually hand-crafted and planted by volunteers in the moat is part of an extensive learning and engagement programme being run Historic Royal Palaces that gets us to think more broadly about why it is we are remembering, and how.

Attempting to transform the way in which audiences engage with and remember the First World War, the programme is underpinned by three overarching questions:

Why should we remember the First World War?

Why is 100 years significant?

How would you remember the First World War?

These questions will be asked of children and adults alike through a series of national events and educational programmes. In collaboration with the University of Birmingham, the questions will also be posed to visitors on Tower Hill this week. To join in the discussion, go to http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/VisitUs/Topthingstoseeanddo/Poppies/Whyremember

Dr Joanne Sayner