Book helps war memorial return to former glory
By Nigel Slater – Evesham Observer Thursday 10 October 2013. Photo by Marcus Mingins
A special service will be held on Sunday in Bishampton to celebrate the restoration project of the village’s war memorial.
The sales from a book celebrating the history of a Vale village have helped restore a war memorial back to its former glory.
Bishampton’s war memorial on Main Street will be re-dedicated in a special service on Sunday (October 13) at 12.30pm following a three-year restoration project, led by the Bishampton History Society, which has seen the monument fully cleaned, repaired and re-landscaped.
The restoration project was made possible as a result of the profits from a book titled ‘Bishampton Remembered’ which was produced by the history society and written by local resident, the late Peter Averis.
Repairs were carried out by the Worcester Cathedral stonemasons and a host of organisations and individuals have contributed to the project including Bishampton and Throckmorton Parish Council, Wychavon District Council and The War Memorials Trust to name just a few.
The Bishop of Worcester, the Right Reverend Dr John Inge will lead Sunday’s service, starting at St James Church, to celebrate the completion of the project and commemorate the memory of villagers who served in both World Wars and those who returned home.
The original war memorial was first dedicated in a service held in the village in 1931.
Mike Rickard, chairman of Bishampton History Society, said: “We feel very privileged that Bishop John has agreed to re-dedicate the memorial which honours the men of Bishampton.
“We are also immensely grateful to everyone who has contributed to this important project in whatever shape or form. “It is a fitting tribute to the memory of Peter Averis and all those men and women who made such sacrifices on our behalf.”
Rev Clive Fairclough from St James’ Church added:
“This service of re-dedication offers us all in the village an opportunity to remember both the families and their relatives who lived in Bishampton and lost loved ones in war. It also reminds us of the importance of respecting those whom the village lost and the newly refurbished memorial shows that respect. We hope it will be a very moving village occasion as we share it with the relatives and friends of whose names we will be remembering.”