Guys,
Wanted to share the press release that will be sent out later this week to local media. After six years of efforts and many set backs and false dawns, finally our local lads who paid the ultimate price will be remembered in a fitting manner 35 years after the original memorial was demolised. As I am sure you can all imagine I am over the moon that we have, along with our partners and sponsors finally manged to right this wrong!!
I know its off topic for this forum to some degree but there are many RAF guys and one RFC on our memorial, lost in just about every theatre of operations and on all types of aircraft. As such and knowing that many will just share the sentiment of not forgetting these guys, I hope this posting falls with forum rules as I just needed to share the excitement/relief that we have finally manged to pull this together!
Wickford War Memorial given green light
Wickford heroes who gave their life during the First World War are set to be remembered with the announcement of a new Wickford War Memorial.
The planned new memorial will see a monument and parade area created within Wickford Memorial Park. The ageing First World War plaques, together with the Second World War plaque, which are currently situated in the park will be restored by a local stone mason and will form a central part of the new monument. The project will also see the original remembrance garden recreated.
Councillor Tony Ball, Wickford Councillor and Leader of Basildon Council said: “We are delighted to announce the new War Memorial in Wickford. We are working with partners such as the Wickford War Memorial Association and the Royal British Legion, and the plans in place will see Wickford Memorial Park become a truly fitting memorial to the brave people of Wickford who gave their lives to protect this country during the wars”.
A small town of just 1500 at the start of the war in 1914, Wickford saw a large number of losses during the conflict, much higher than the national average. Their names are remembered on two plaques which were initially mounted in the porch of the Wickford War Memorial Nurses Home that opened in 1920 as a result of public campaign. When the old Nurses’ Home was demolished in 1976, the Memorial plaques were mounted on two concrete blocks and erected in the park next to the Second World War memorial plaque.
The work will see the damaged plaques repaired by an Essex based stone mason and work will be done to create a new monument and hard standing parade area, the brick design of which will be a tribute to the Nurses’ Home and will map out the original rooms of the building.
The project is due to cost £69,000 and will be funded by Basildon Borough Council, Veolia Pitsea Marshes Trust, the Communities Initiative fund, the Essex Environment Trust and also the Wickford Memorial Association who have raised money through fundraising initiatives.
Steve Newman, Author of Wickford’s Heroes and the Rise and Fall of Wickford War Memorial and founder of the War Memorial Association said: “’Wickford is long overdue a fitting memorial and we are delighted after so long, and so much hard work and effort to be entering this final phase along with our partners who have been so supportive in making this a reality. Finally after so many years those who sacrificed everything will be properly commemorated in their home town.'”
Councillor Kevin Blake, Cabinet member for Leisure and the Arts added: “The Council is committed to improving key parks within the borough and Wickford Memorial Park is one of these. The new memorial is well overdue and will stand as a tribute to all those people who sacrificed their lives for this country.”
Work is expected to start over the coming weeks and is due to be completed prior to Remembrance Day when the Royal British Legion will be holding a special remembrance event.
The second part of the work which will see a new arboretum built in the park will also start in October.
Cheers
Steve
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June 2, 2011 at 11:26 am