Arlesey War Memorial - Reaches 100!

Written for the Arlesey News Magazine by Jodie Chiller y

The War Memorial on the junction o f House Lane, Church Lane and the High Street was constructed and erected in 1923 It was unveiled to the community during a ceremony held on the 15th July 1923.

Community groups including residents, families o f the fallen, the War Memorial committee, Ex- ser vicemen, Arlesey Silver Band, Nursing Sister, Women’s Institu te, Friendly Society, Cricket Club, Foo tball Club, School children and Ambulance United Choirs were all in attendance and placed individual flo wers at the base o f the memorial resulting in an impressive display

The Ceremony held in 1923 no t only marked its o ff icial unveiling bu t also the transfer o f its upkeep to the responsibility o f the Parish Council This was accepted by the then Chairman W.J Crawley. The responsibility o f its upkeep to this day rests with Arlesey To wn Council, who have in recent years replaced the bollards a number o f times, its location on a three way junction has led to traff ic colliding with them! In addition each year a specialist contractor is engaged to look after the marble and engraving, and the To wn Council paint the steps

The idea o f a memorial was f irst discussed at a meeting in 1919 and at a Parish Council Meeting in early 1923, parishioners included The Lamplighter, Representatives o f the War Memorial Committee, members o f the Parish Council and members o f the public, laid plans for the War Memorial The cost less the two bases could amount to £200. The Chase site was chosen, near to the Chestnu t tree, the Clerk was instructed to place the order with Mr. Borro wdale.

10th

Februar y 1923

The order for the construction o f the memorial was placed with stone masons Borro wdale f rom Worksop in No ttinghamshire were contracted by Arlesey Parish Council in 1923. Reflecting the uniform o f the f irst world war infantr y, the soldier is facing sou th, with Brodie Helmet, Shor t Magazine Lee -Enf ield (SMLE rifle) SD tunic and trousers, ankle boo ts and long ‘pu tties’

At the unveiling ceremony, o ver 60 floral tribu tes f rom relatives and o ff icials were placed at the base o f the memorial including f rom the Ladies War Memorial Committee, which included Mrs T King, Mrs B Crawley, Mrs Goodwin, Mrs Pateman, Mrs Presland, Mrs To tt and Mrs Topham, the Parish Council, the Cricket and Foo tball Clubs, WI and Por tland Brick Comany.

Finally the transfer o f the Memorial to the keeping o f the Parish Council was accepted follo wed by the Last Post

Arlesey Remembers You and the Arlesey Community Events Committee are planning a commemorative event to mark the memorial's centenar y We are hoping to recreate the original flo wer display by inviting the modern day equivalent community groups to gather at the Memorial and place flo wers (we will supply) on Sunday 9th July. Please contact Arlesey Remembers You for fur ther details.

(Jodie.gravett@btinternet.com)

May 2023 Facts & Figures:

* 705 parcels pro vided.

* £45,825.00 (estimated value o f food this month.)

* £6,602.50 (average monthly cost to run the charity.)

* 95 (amount o f additional food parcels this month,) an increase o f 22% on the same time last year.

We hope you enjo yed our f irst installment o f news in last month’s Arlesey News Magazine Here is the run-do wn for the last few weeks

This month with your help We have managed to make a difference to 1,666 adults, 109 pensioners and 1,458 children This includes our best before food that we give away

Our latest statistics belo w, sho w what parcels we delivered in May.