Restoration Projects Sees More Names Added To The Memorial

On Saturday a service of re-dedication for our newly refurbished memorials in Hengate Memorial Gardens was conducted by Reverend Becky Lumley from of St Mary’s Church. The project that cost around £40K to complete has seen many of the memorials cleaned up and repaired and also the edition of more names of men who fell in the Great War.

One of the main aims of the project was to secure the memorial as the base was moving and to clean and conserve the everything. After being prompted by contact from the historian Barrie Barnes the issue of names missing from the memorial was raised, these names have now been added.

Barrie Barnes who is in the final stage of book entitle ‘Know Unto God, Beverley and the Great War’ . His work has highlighted the impact World War I had on the town. Barrie’s research to date shows that 432 men lost their lives and over 1,500 returned back to Beverley wounded.

Barrie has researched the missing and this week a further 28 names were added the memorial that stands tall in the gardens. Barrie’s book is due to come out next November to co-inside with the
centenary of the Great War.

Chair of SSAFA East Yorkshire Cllr David Elvidge said; “I firmly believe recognition through remembrance of the sacrifices of our Armed Forces personnel is something that cannot be taken too lightly and must be ongoing, the memorials in Hengate Garden are pivotal to that.”

It has taken several months with work on the structure and research leading to the manufacture of copies of the models the statues hold. The service of re-dedication date has been chosen to ensure that the rededication was completed before Remembrance Sunday.

Gerald O’Callaghen from the Civic Society reflecting on the project said; “Looking back things have gone very well. At times it was a struggle with lots of small issues but I am very pleased with the outcome.”