Next month marks the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War, and it will be remembered in Gravesham with a number of commemorative events.

Throughout the year, Gravesham council has organised film screenings, poppy seed spreading and exhibitions.

Mayor Cllr John Caller and members of several groups and organisations, including work experience students from Ifield School, representatives of Northfleet Big Local and horticultural apprentices from the council, have spread in excess of 100,000 poppy and red wildflower seeds as a symbol of remembrance.

They have been planted at Northfleet Cemetery, Northfleet High Street, Windmill Gardens, Darnley Road, Pelham Road and Dash Wood Road.

The poppies are expected to flower in the late summer.

The mayor said: “It is an honour to be involved in the remembrance services and activities that we are delivering as a borough in memory of the brave men and women that fought and lost their lives for our us.

“I am particularly looking forward to seeing the poppies that we planted bloom during the summer. I hope people will join us to remember”

The mayor will also be travelling around the borough to lay crosses at Gravesham’s Commonwealth war graves on Wednesday, October 29 and Thursday, October 30.

The council will be turning off the main lights inside the Civic Centre and Towncentric offices on Monday, August 4, as part of the 14-18 NOW – Lights Out Project.

Lights will go out across the country at 11pm to mark the 100th anniversary of the moment war was declared.

And an exhibition at The Blake Gallery in the Civic Centre will include a 1914-1918 timeline showing key events, war poetry artistic interpretations and historical material. It runs between August 4 and 28.

As a part of the Gravesham remembers activities The Woodville will have several First World War film screenings:

• Monday, July 7: All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
• Monday, July 21: The Dawn Patrol (1930)
• Monday, September 8: Passchendaele (2008)
• Monday, October 6: Gallipoli (1981)
• Monday, November 10: Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

To book, visit the Woodville or go online to www.woodville.co.uk

Gravesham’s Commonwealth war graves mayoral visits.

• Wednesday, October 29
• Gravesend Cemetery 10am
• Northfleet Cemetery 11.15am
• St Margaret, Ifield 1.30pm
• St John the Baptist, Meopham 2.30pm
• St Mildreds, Nurstead 3.30pm
• Thursday, October 30
• St Mary’s, Chalk 10am
• St Mary’s, Higham 11am
• St Peter & St Paul, Shorne 12pm
• St Mary Magdalene, Cobham, 1pm