Not just a memory for fallen war heroes

7:10am Tuesday 19th August 2008

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A WAR memorial in Mid-Devon has been saved from falling into a state of disrepair by the fundraising efforts of a retired Lieutenant Colonel.

Lieu Col Peter Townsend MBE and his wife, Paula Townsend, have raised £1,200 for the renovation of the memorial situated between East and West Worlington.

The fundraising was helped by donations from Joe Tucker, the county councillor for the parish, the War Memorials Trust and £500 from the O2 It’s Your Community scheme.

The pair from West Worlington, have enthusiastically raised more than £250,000 over the past fifteen years.

Mr Townsend said: “Since I retired early from the Army through injury I spend my time fundraising. There’s money out there, you just have to know where to get it and when you find it it’s amazing how much there is.”

Mr Townsend applied for the O2 It’s Your Community scheme and was surprised how quickly he got a response.

He said: “When I raised money for the church bells in the village it took ages because some of these boards and trust’s only meet once a year. But at O2 they have money for community groups and it’s so easy you just write a few words of justification and you have an answer in a few weeks.”

The money will go towards commissioning dry-stone-waller Dave Tyler, who will tidy up the wall around the memorial and clean its base.

Mr Townsend said that the memorial will be the centre of the annual Remembrance Sunday parade on November 9.

Sir Hugh Stucley will lay the wreath when large numbers of people come together to remember those who fell in World War I and World War II.