Loaning material to the Minster

"We would be delighted if you would consider loaning the items as part of our schools project. It would be fantastic to have a ‘memory box’ dedicated to Herbert Worley, to inspire young visitors as part of their visit to York Minster.  I have outlined below the purpose and content of the new First World War workshops and how the memory boxes are used:

I am currently piloting a series of First World War workshops for schools, focusing on the theme of Remembrance. The workshops take place in St George’s Chapel in York Minster and involve pupils using what I have called ‘memory boxes’ to discover the inspirational stories of people who lived during the First World War. These boxes are used by children during the new workshops, to look at a ‘real’ person who lived during the First World War. The boxes contain items (such as copies of letters, postcards, photographs, original and replica objects etc.) which relate to a specific individual. The boxes aim to help bring this person ‘to life’ and offer a glimpse into their lives 100 years ago. The session finishes with pupils creating their own unique poppy wreath (with messages to their ‘memory box person’ written on it), which is then placed on the altar of St George’s Chapel in an act of remembrance.

The memory boxes contain items which have been sourced by myself (such as census material, replica badges and medals, national archive material etc.) and items which have been given / loaned by families -in some cases we have used the originals, in other cases I have had professional copies made. The boxes are stored in a locked location in the Minster and are always used under close supervision (by a myself and class teachers). To encourage careful handling I ask pupils to wear gloves when handling original objects and ensure that they are wrapped / enclosed separately to the other items in the boxes.

You mention in your email that you have a plaque, photos and a bereavement card with envelope relating to Herbert Worley. It sounds like these would make a truly fascinating memory box. As you say, the photographs and bereavement card should probably be copied if they were to be used in a memory box, but perhaps you would be willing for us to use the original plaque?"

Esther Lockwood York Minster