Dignitaries including Bury St Edmunds MP Jo Churchill and the mayor of St Edmundsbury Margaret Marks are due to attend the formal opening of the World War 1 Trail, in Bury St Edmunds, on Saturday.

East Anglian Daily Times: Michelle Freeman and Mike Garling with a mock up of Silent Soldiers in LPs.Michelle Freeman and Mike Garling with a mock up of Silent Soldiers in LPs. (Image: Archant)

It is taking place in the Abbey Gardens with other people associated with the trail also due to attend including representatives of the My WiSH Charity, Our Bury St Edmunds, the businesses improvement group in the town, and Treatt, who are sponsoring the initiative.

It comes after the launch of the trail earlier this month which took place at the Greene King Beer Café.

There are a total of 18 pieces of iconic artwork now in the town which commemorates the 100th anniversary of the end of the 1914-1918 conflict.

They are now being put in place at various locations including the Abbey Gardens, St John’s Church, the Apex, Langton Place, LP Bar, Denny Bros, Beautiful Beers, Market Thoroughfare, St Edmundsbury Cathedral, Greene King, The Guildhall and Angel Hill.

East Anglian Daily Times: Den Humphrey with his wooden book for the World War 1 Trail. Picture: RUSSELL COOKDen Humphrey with his wooden book for the World War 1 Trail. Picture: RUSSELL COOK (Image: Archant)

They feature a host of iconic pieces of work including a tank, a wooden cross, a colourful and imaginative camel, a stained glass window, a serpentine trench, an oak book, a line of decorated handkerchiefs, a Zeppelin, peace bells and a Victoria Cross.

There is also a bike to commemororate the Suffolk Cycling Battalion which was the trailblazer for the initiative.

The trail is being organised by Our Bury St Edmunds and the My WiSH Charity with funds raised going to the charity’s Every Heart Matters appeal

It is aiming to raise £500,000 to help create a fully integrated cardiac centre at the West Suffolk Hospital and runs from Saturday until Armistice Day, November 11, with an auction taking place to sell off all of the pieces to go to the appeal with a competition also being organised for people to find the displays in the town.

East Anglian Daily Times: Marie Roby and her trench art cross.Marie Roby and her trench art cross. (Image: Archant)

The West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust is investing £5.2m in developing a state of the art cardiac suite that will provide quicker access to more treatments, but the £500,000 My WiSH Charity is hoping to raise will lead to the whole unit, which is currently fragmented on different floors, being brought together in one purpose-built centre.

If you want to support the Every Heart Matters appeal go to the website www.mywishcharity.co.uk and if you would like to donate to the appeal you can do so by going to Justgiving.com/ehma or text EHMA17 £10 to 70070.

East Anglian Daily Times: Mike Wells with his wooden Victoria Cross.Mike Wells with his wooden Victoria Cross. (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: Steve Manning's World War 1 tankSteve Manning's World War 1 tank (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: Serpentine trenchSerpentine trench (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: Jon Messum with his stain glass window for the World War 1 Trail. Picture: RUSSELL COOKJon Messum with his stain glass window for the World War 1 Trail. Picture: RUSSELL COOK (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: Every Heart Matters logoEvery Heart Matters logo (Image: Archant)

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