A NEW permanent display paying tribute to Studley’s bygone needle industry is being officially launched this weekend.

The wall display and artefact collection, located at Studley Village Hall, summarises the history of an industry once at the centre of Studley’s community, with recordings of oral histories and a new digital photo display as well as sources of information.

The main aims are to share heritage, celebrate the involvement of local families and ensure that the younger generation and village newcomers understand and remember the importance of the needle industry.

Everyone is invited to join the research project group for tea and cake and to see the display on Saturday between 12 and 3pm, when celebrated local historian and author Arthur Cooke will be ‘talking down memory lane’.

A commemorative 'needlers' directory' will also be stored and maintained at the hall and anyone with photos to share, a story to tell or with any connection to the local industry is invited to contribute.

The event will be complemented by a new Needle Heritage Research Point in Studley Library, which goes live at the end of April.

Event organiser Joy Pegrum said: "Although the buildings, the machinery and the jobs have gone, researchers found that it still lives on in the hearts, memories and family histories of those who knew it."

For more information contact Joy Pegrum on 01386 830995, go to Studley Heritage on Facebook or visit ourwarwickshire.org.uk/content/organisation/studley-needle-heritage.