Residents in Elvaston have expressed their gratitude to Tarmac for helping to ensure their village war memorial is fit for heroes.
The Elvaston War Memorial, which has been standing proud in the Derbyshire village since 1923, commemorates villagers who gave their lives serving in The Great War and World War II.
Unfortunately, the monument had become a little tired and sorry looking, with the surrounding area becoming worn by people paying their respects. To bring the memorial back to its former glory, Tarmac donated nearly two tonnes of specialist 20mm gravel which the parishioners laid on the approach and surrounds to the monument.
Fiona Keppel-Spoor, clerk to Elvaston Parish Council, said: “We are so grateful to Tarmac for assisting us with this donation; it has made a fantastic difference to our memorial.
“People in the parish hold the memorial very dear and it is a priority to keep it looking nice as our way of remembering the brave sons of the village who died in the wars.”
The Grade II-listed sandstone monument, which is protected and listed on the National Heritage List for England, features a tall cross and commemorative section paying tribute to 15 men who did not return from the First World War and two who died in the Second World War.
Councillors and parishioners volunteered to undertake restoration work, removing gravel contaminated by earth and worn weed suppressant membrane.
Fiona added: “The Parish Council’s ‘lengthman’ regularly scrubs dirt off the monument and ensures hedges and weeds are kept trim and tidy. The new gravel surround will look nice when people come to lay wreaths on Remembrance Sunday.”
The site is located on the B5010 in Elvaston at its junction with Silver lane.
Ian Adcock, manager at Tarmac’s Swarkestone Sand and Gravel Quarry, said: “We were happy to help when asked. We understand the importance of keeping memorials tidy and this was just a small way we could pay our own respects to the fallen heroes of Elvaston.”
