SIXTH form students took part in a sports-themed heritage project which captured the memories of elderly residents in Rossendale.

Teens from Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School interviewed cricket legends as part of the Lancashire League Experience heritage project.

Among the interviewees were two former Bacup Cricket Club captains, Neal Wilkinson and Phil Lord, former player Gerard Cahill, club historian Chris Farnworth, long-standing supporter Charlie Parkinson and former League chairman of Rawtenstall Cricket Club Bert Hanson.

Their interviews were a springboard for researching history for posters on the themes of sport, education, transport and family and social life which will be used to spark memories and a sense of wellbeing for people living with Dementia, as well as a record of social history.

Students were tutored by Dementia Friendly Rossendale, Together Housing and the Lancashire Cricket League’s heritage project.

Brian Heywood, manager of the Lancashire League’s heritage project, said: “The students had no idea that cricket has, for decades, been integral to the lives of so many people in Rossendale, or that matches were such family occasions.

“They were amazed that some of the best cricketers in the world, such as Everton Weekes, Vijay Hazare and George Tribe, had represented their local clubs.

“One of our project partners is the Sporting Memories Foundation, the national leader in helping people living with dementia by accessing their sporting memories.

“The template for the week seems likely to become embedded in BRGS’s curriculum enrichment programme.”

Saima Mubeen, of Together Housing, said: “The knowledge, experience and memorabilia that the cricket project has provided has been a great resource, and the access to local sporting ‘legends’ has given the students invaluable, first-hand experience.”

The students presented their work to the Mayor of Rossendale, Cllr Colin Crawforth, councillors, and interviewees.

Brian Topping, chairman of Dementia Friendly Rossendale, said: “The students are a credit to the school, a credit to the team within which they worked, and a credit to themselves.”