War Memorial plan takes off

Initial ideas for a memorial in Hednesford town centre to honour fallen war heroes have been revealed.

The town's British Legion is leading the project to site a memorial close to the clock in the centre of town and today revealed early ideas included a granite sphere or pyramid-shaped structure.

Plans are still in the very early stages and talks are taking place with officers at Cannock Chase District Council to establish how much land close to the clock would feasibly be available.

People are keen for a memorial to be sited in the heart of the town as Hednesford's war memorial is somewhat isolated off Rugeley Road and involves a steep walk to reach it which elderly people have struggled with.

Derrick Ellison, chairman of the Hednesford Royal British Legion, said: "It would be a substantial memorial at the heart of Hednesford and is something we think is very much needed in the town."

Ideas have included mounting a plaque bearing a simple message on the memorial ensuring people know why it is there.

Joe Denny, vice-chairman of the town's Royal British Legion, has sent photographs of the town centre clock, off Market Street, to a stonemason in Lichfield who is going to look into creating designs for something to be located close by.

Mr Denny, aged 75, said something was needed in the town centre as elderly people often struggled with the steep walk to current memorial. Remembrance Sunday services currently take place around the town centre clock.

Mr Denny said: "When we know how much of the land near the clock could be available to us we can really get working on the designs and getting costings."

County Councillor John O'Leary and district and town Councillor Ron Turville have given their support.

By Michelle Pearson