Paralympic arts and crafts

A day of games and crafts celebrating Paralympic Heritage!

For this years Heritage Open Day we partnered with Buckinghamshire Archives to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Paralympic Movement at Aylesbury Library. We enjoyed meeting many local families, sharing our local history and we even had a surprise visit from the Mayor of Aylesbury who met the Paris 2024 Paralympic mascot.

On the 29th July 1948, Professor Sir Ludwig Guttmann organised an archery competition at Stoke Mandeville Hospital to coincide with the opening ceremony of the London Olympic Games. Dr Guttmann's creation of the Stoke Mandeville Games in 1948 was the moment that the Paralympic Movement was born.

To celebrate this milestone, visitors had the opportunity to view items from our collection and archives that are not usually on display. Our banners told the stories of the Paralympic Movement, the 1948 Games, the role of the National Spinal Injuries Centre, and how the community were key to the success of the early Games.

Visitors could take a virtual tour of our Heritage Centre and 3D virtual museum, and download our new heritage trail app. Find out about the Paralympic sports of archery and boccia and get creative by designing a medal, Games uniform, and a mascot!

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