THREE prominent moments in history will be marked with a unique collection of personal stories.

This year marks three anniversaries as 2018 sees the centenary of the U Boat surrender in Harwich Harbour at the end of the First World War, the 80th anniversary of the Kindertransport and the 65th anniversary of the 1953 floods.

Harwich Town Council's honorary archivists, Ray Plummer and Anne Kemp-Luck, have gathered stories from ordinary people linked to what are some of the town's most poignant events in history.

They will be displayed together in a special free exhibition for National Heritage Week today and tomorrow, Sunday, from 2.30pm to 4.30pm at the Harwich Guildhall in Church Street.

Ray said: “With three very significant anniversaries we couldn’t possibly choose between them so Anne and I decided to focus on all three.

"The link that gives the exhibition its theme is that we have personal, written accounts from ordinary people who experienced these historic events and they are included to offer the human side of Harwich’s history.”

In addition to the exhibition in the council chamber the Harwich Society’s vice chairman, David Whittle, will be giving his latest illustrated talk in the mayor’s parlour on the history of Harwich’s lighthouses.

He said: "This year marks the 200th anniversary of the building of Harwich’s High and Low lighthouses so it seemed a fitting time to create a talk on the history of Harwich’s lighthouses through the centuries.

"Although these magnificent structures date from King George III they were certainly not the first lighthouses to guide ships into Harwich Harbour.”

Visitors will also be able to visit the Guildhall's famous jail and see the wooden walls which contain carvings from Napoleonic times during the event.

Chairman of Harwich Town Council’s finance and general purposes committee, councillor Pam Morrison, said: "We are very grateful to Ray, Anne and David for creating such fascinating exhibitions that provide so much information and interest.

"However, it should not be forgotten that they are bringing Historic Harwich’s history to life every week of the year and their dedication and knowledge is incredibly valuable to our town.”