The past week saw considerable activity at the village centre when a carefully planned scheme to re-site the war memorial started to take shape.
On Monday 1 August a crane arrived from Coventry accompanied by a team of lifting specialists who first prised the column of the memorial upwards off its base in order to attach lifting slings. The crane then lifted the column and base which had been undisturbed since 1922 and transferred them onto a pre-formed plinth at the exact centre of the triangular area. The memorial has been raised onto a sub-base of matching Cornish granite with the obelisk turned so that the front elevation now faces towards the village centre. Before the base was finally placed onto its new plinth a brass plate was embedded in the bonding mortar engraved with the names of the three contractors engaged in the operation on behalf of the parish council. These were T.H. Dew & Sons Ltd, responsible for the building improvements. T G Electrical Services Ltd for the electrical work and Redhouse Industrial Services Ltd for the lifting task. The operation attracted the interest of many local residents who were keen to see this long awaited project take place.
Work is continuing with the laying of blue-brick paving around the memorial which will incorporate three pathways and turf infill all enclosed within the original railings. The memorial now stands directly above the old village well which is 12 feet deep and still half full of water. An electric pump with timer will draw upon this water to irrigate three hanging baskets of flowers to be suspended from the old lamppost. The time-worn bench will take its place alongside the enclosure and concealed lighting will provide faint illumination during the dark evenings.
A later stage of the work, due for completion by September, will be the cleaning of the original granite blocks and the highlighting of the names on the Roll of Honour. A long overdue addition to the Roll will be the inscribed name of Lieutenant Anthony George Attwood Morris, late of Pailton House, who gave his life on the Western Front during the Great War while serving with the King’s Own Lancashire Regiment.
The concluding stage of this important work will be a service of dedication to be held later this year.
