An exhibition featuring traditional celebrations such as Whit Walks, Bun Day and coronations has been unveiled in Bedworth.

Children from the town were today learning about the history of Founder’s Day, when pupils from five Bedworth churches are traditionally given a currant bun.

Photos of their experience will be added to the exhibition at the Parsonage Project in All Saints Square to bring the display right up to date.

Founder’s Day is held every year to celebrate the contribution of the Nicholas Chamberlaine charity, which still helps the schools.

Year Two pupils from Hob Lane school have been learning about Nicholas Chamberlaine and his charity, and visited a permanent display at the project which has a life-size mannequin of him.

Local historian John Burton, who showed them round, said:

“Children and grown-ups alike are fascinated to find out that Nicholas Chamberlaine was a real person and not just the name of Bedworth’s biggest school.”

The tradition of Founder’s Day is being explored in a new exhibition called “Celebrations!” which opens today.

Local newspaper archives have been researched to find reports of coronations, carnivals and other traditional celebrations.

It beings with Bedworth’s celebration of Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee in 1897 and has photographs of the occasions right up to today’s festivities.

People are being encouraged to bring in more souvenirs to add to the exhibition.

Organiser Lynda Carnes said:

“We have a few artefacts such as posters, souvenir programmes and commemorative items, but we hope people will bring in their own souvenirs and photographs to add to the exhibition.

“We have a lockable display case in which to display them.”

The Parsonage Project will be open extra hours from 27 May to 4 June as part of Warwickshire Arts and Heritage Week.

Regular opening times for the Celebrations! exhibition, which runs until 6 August are 10.30am to 1pm on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturday.

These will be extended to 5pm for the special week, and there will be free guided walks of the Bedworth Society “Town Trail” leaving from the Parsonage at 2pm on both the Saturdays in the week.