Members of the Project Team and Kingsley branch of the British Legion pictured at the site.
The project team are pleased to announce that the works around the War Memorial have been completed in time for the act of Remembrance on 11th November.
Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund the path from Dovedale Road up onto the Memorial has been dug out and replaced by a paved pathway that gives access to the Memorial for all regardless of ability and also on to the Staffordshire Way that crosses the site.
A paved surround has been laid around the memorial itself and also a new fence erected to the rear of the site. In addition a new Kissing Gate has been installed. The works have been finished off by the installation of a new seat that has been re positioned to give improve views of the site, the Churnet Valley and across to Kingsley Holt.
All that remains now is for the installation of an interpretation panel to detail some of the history of the memorial and the parish of Kingsley.
Said project lead Martyn Hordern ‘we really wanted the works to be done in time for this years Remembrance Day so are pleased we have achieved that’ he added ‘the works have really enhanced the site and made it easier for the elderly and less able to get to the memorial but also provides a path that can be used by walkers and the like’
Ken Unwin a member of the project team and also Chair of the Parish Council said ‘We are delighted with the work which has done around the Cenotaph which makes it more accessible and tidies up the area. We are grateful to the adjoining landowners David and Josie Clowes who have allowed the rear fence to be moved back a metre into their field to allow clear access around the cenotaph’
The site needs time to recover in terms of the grass and the project team working with the Parish Council will look to continue work around the site to improve on what is an excellent memorial to those who died as a result of three conflicts from World War 1 to Korea in 1950’s.
The project team is a partnersdhip of members of the public, the British Legion, St Werburgh’s Church and of course the Parish Council who have all worked together towards this project.