THREE intrepid Worcester citizens are back in the city after journeying all the way to Gheluvelt in western Belgium as part of the First World War commemorations to mark the bravery of the Worcestershire Regiment at the Battle of Gheluvelt.

Airline pilot Nigel Bradford and chartered accountant Ian Smith drove two Malvern Morgan cars from Gheluvelt Park in the city centre to the village of Gheluvelt itself, 286miles away, to lay wreaths from the Regiment, Morgan Motors, Kings School Worcester and Malvern College. While Worcester history teacher Andrew Trickett cycled from Gheluvelt Park to Belgium in his own commemoration 100 years since the battle to raise funds for Children’s Hospice.

Mr Bradford said: “Gheluvelt Park was a huge part of my childhood. Such a wonderful place with a wonderfully exotic sounding name. A place of great fun but, as I recognised in later life, tinged with solemn remembrance. So I decided to set out on an adventure to commemorate its name.

“We travelled in two Morgan, cars that would not have seemed that unfamiliar 100 years ago, and built in the county. With the cars and the wreaths we took a little bit of Worcestershire to Gheluvelt itself, leaving England in expectation and high spirits, as all soldiers did. We returned however, after acts of Remembrance in Belgium, mindful of the many who did not, but thankful for their deeds on that day 100 years ago.”

Dr Adrian Gregson, Worcestershire World War One Hundred project director, added: "The date of October 31 is a significant moment in Worcestershire’s history, through the Worcestershire World War One Hundred project and the many commemorative events that took place across Worcestershire at the end of October there were a range of ways for the people of Worcestershire to commemorate and remember the Battle. Over the coming four years we will continue to encourage people to explore, through our events and activities, what the Great War really meant for the people of Worcestershire as well as the legacy it left behind.”

Worcestershire World War One Hundred, funded through Heritage Lottery Fund, is one of the largest programme of events across England commemorating the First World War. For the full Worcestershire World War One Hundred programme visit: http://www.ww1worcestershire.co.uk/