A two-year project to install a prominent and more visible war
memorial in Peterborough city centre will reach fruition on
Monday 25 June 2012 when the new memorial is dedicated on Bridge
Street, Peterborough, at 10am.
The dedication of the war memorial will
coincide with Fly a Flag for Armed Forces day which recognises all
those who are serving, or have served, in the armed forces.
The ceremony will begin at 10am with a
welcome from the Mayor of Peterborough, Councillor George Simons,
followed by a speech from George Bennett, chair of the Royal
British Legion Peterborough branch and member of the Peterborough
War Memorial committee. Councillor Irene Walsh, chair of the
Peterborough War Memorial committee, will then pay tribute to
everyone who has made a donation towards the new memorial, which
has been paid for solely out of donations.
The Dean of Peterborough, the Very Reverend
Charles Taylor, will then officially dedicate the new memorial,
which will be followed by a two minutes' silence.
Following the dedication, Royal British Legion
Padre, Reverend George Rogers, will conduct a short service which
will include readings by Langford Smith, President of the Royal
British Legion Peterborough branch, and Margaret Yallop who lost
her brother in conflict in Ireland in 1972.
The Mayor of Peterborough, Councillor George
Simons, will raise the Armed Forces Day flag at 10.30am. Finally,
The Dean of Peterborough, the Very Reverend Charles Taylor, will
perform the final blessing of the war memorial.
During the ceremony more than 80 pupils from
William Law Church of England Primary School's choir will perform
Wherever You Are, which was number 1 in the charts at Christmas for
the Military Wives with Gareth Malone.
Councillor
Irene Walsh, chair of the Peterborough War Memorial committee,
said: "On behalf of all the members of the war memorial committee,
I would like to say how proud we are to have achieved our aim of
having a more prominent memorial in the centre of the city to
honour all those people who have died fighting for our country.
"I am incredibly grateful for the support we
have received from the people of Peterborough. We must not forget
that without the generosity of members of the public, school
children, local businesses and everyone else who made a donation to
the appeal, we would not be where we are today.
"The dedication will be a public event so it
would be great to see everyone who has supported the memorial at
the ceremony on 25 June."
George Bennett, chair of the Royal British
Legion Peterborough branch, said: "Our goal from the beginning has
been to provide a memorial in a prominent position in the city
centre which will be a focal point for remembrance, not just on
special occasions, but every day of the year. Thank you to everyone
who has supported the committee to make this possible.
"The dedication should be a very proud moment,
not just for me, but for every single person in this city who has
made a donation and made the dream of having a new war memorial a
reality."
The new war memorial was sculptured by
Stamford Stone Company Ltd and installed by John Lucas Ltd of
Peterborough. The memorial stone is Ancaster white limestone.
The memorial is based on the Armed Forces
Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas,
Staffordshire. It will include a bronze plaque which will include
the following wording:
A memorial to the men and women of the city of
Peterborough who have sacrificed their lives in the service of
their country, and whose names are recorded in the books of
remembrance in Peterborough Cathedral
There are steps leading up to the obelisk and
on the memorial are the words 'Lest We Forget' in gold leaf.
Ends.