Residents' delight after war memorial work is completed
Residents have spoken of their delight after work was completed on a £10,000 community project to revamp a war memorial.
The work has seen the memorial on Kent Street in Upper Gornal, Dudley, backed by a new wall honouring local residents who fought to defend their country.
The project was started by former Upper Gornal and Woodsetton councillor Keiran Casey and the Oval and Tudor Tenants and Residents Association (TRA).
It saw £10,000 raised for the wall, as well as new lighting and an information board.
An unveiling and dedication ceremony is expected to take place in the coming months, as well as the annual Remembrance Day service.
Keiran Casey, chair of the Oval and Tudor Tenants and Residents Assocation, said: "This has been a really fantastic community project and it's brilliant to see the finishing touches to this memorial wall.
"Since we first started working on this and got the original stone, soldier figure and flagpole installed, we have continued to look at further ways of improving this, and it really has become a focal point at the heart of the community, and now decades since these brave men gave their lives for our country, their names will not be on permanent public display forever.
"It's brilliant that we now have somewhere both in Upper Gornal and in Woodsetton where local people are able to pay their respects and to ensure that we always honour the memory of the people who have paid the ultimate sacrifice fighting for our freedom, something we must never forget."
Mr Casey said residents had been delighted with the finished work. He thanked all who had supported the project, including the TRA, McDonalds, Wilkinson Stonemasons and St Peter's Church, as well as residents who had put forward names.
