A councillor is campaigning to restore a war memorial that is currently lying in pieces in Grove Road cemetery in Harrogate.
The memorial contains the names of 16 men from the Bilton and High Harrogate areas who lost their lives in the First World War.
When the nearby methodist church in which it stood was converted to flats, the memorial was relocated to the cemetery.
It was left in parts on pallets and has remained there since, almost forgotten in the undergrowth.
That was several years ago and Paul Haslam, who lives in Bilton and is a Conservative councillor for North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate Borough Council, wants to see the memorial restored to honour the fallen men. He said:
“I’d like to see it re-erected. Memorials like this should never be forgotten — they are not just lumps of stone. These lives should be remembered.”
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Mr Haslam said it would cost about £25,000 to restore the white marble memorial. A top section, made of more valuable material, was stolen years ago and would need to be replaced.
Paul Haslam
Mr Haslam began campaigning on the issue two years ago but covid has dominated this year and made funding for such projects difficult.
He has now approached ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, which awards grants, for helps and hopes 2021 will see the matter resolved.
Mr Haslam said:
“I’m sure the memorial would have been fixed this year if it wasn’t for covid. I hope we can get it back up inside the gates for everyone to see when they enter the cemetery.”
