Madam,

There’s a new website ‘When the Welsh came to Bedford’ telling the story of the Welsh troops who spent time in Bedford during the First World War.

There’s a lot of information in it already - stories to warm your heart, stories to bring a tear to your eye - and events otherwise perhaps long-forgotten, such as the eisteddfod for the Welsh troops held in the Skating Rink on the Bedford Embankment on Easter Monday, 1916.

What would really add to it tremendously, though, are stories, information, pictures and memories from your readers’ family archives.

Their families may have had family members billeted in Bedford, their soldier family member may have married a local girl, may have enjoyed the troops’ Christmas treat held in Bedford, taken part in the eisteddfod or sporting events or concerts, may have sent letters and photographs to their families about their time in Bedford or after they had left Bedford for active service overseas.

Perhaps women from their families joined the war effort and found themselves serving in Bedford.

We have very little information at the moment about Welsh women who may have joined the armed forces or the voluntary organisations, perhaps as nurses, and who spent time in Bedford.

If your readers were happy to share their stories and pictures on the website that would be a great contribution to making the story the website tells as comprehensive as it possibly can be.

There is a contact form on the website which your readers who have information to share will be able to use.

Peter Applewhite, Bedford