Amy Luckhurst will be among villagers marking the centenary of the First World War.

As the five-year-old waters poppies sewn earlier this year along the A2, Newington residents are preparing for a weekend of remembrance on September 6-7.

The event will see the unveiling of a handcrafted book detailing the lives of the village’s First World War heroes.

Almost two years of painstaking research by the Newington History Group was involved in unpicking the biographies of the 31 brave men who died in the bitter conflict.

The bound book of remembrance also records the lives of the 120 surviving soldiers who came back to their families.

By trawling through archives, speaking to villagers and using the internet they were able to piece together the facts about the men, with just a few exceptions.

Book conservator Liz Fagg-Shuttlewood, a villager, has hand-stitched the pages and bound the book, while her father-in-law, Dave Fagg, hand-crafted and carved the display case from a single piece of English oak.

The book will go on permanent display in the church and printed copies will be sold in aid of the village’s war memorial trust.

Dean Coles, chairman of Newington History Group, said: “The men who died are no longer just names on our memorial.

“Now, because of this research, we know them as people – where they lived in the village, their occupations before they enlisted and details of their family life.”

Villagers and visitors marking the centenary in the village are invited to step back in time and wear dress from the period.

They will be able to enjoy a range of attractions including re-enactments by the Royal West Kent’s Living History Group, displays, films, art and performances by UK Paper brass band.

Events will be centred around St Mary’s Church, where the memorial cross in the churchyard will be re-dedicated by the Bishop of Dover the Rt Rev Trevor Willmott, who will also be blessing the book of remembrance.

The service at 3pm on Sunday, September 7, will take place 95 years to the day on September 7, 1919, when the cross was first unveiled.

Newington History Group’s World War One Commemoration Weekend runs from 10am-5pm on Saturday, September 6 and from 11am-5pm on Sunday, September 7.

For details, or to find out more about the group, contact thelma@newingtonhistory.co.uk or call 01795 842711.