Neighbourhood News Magazine

39 www.sandridge-pc.gov.uk Summer 2024 The plaque explaining about the lychgate being built as a war memorial to remember the sacrifice of those who died was also returned. Then the honour boards naming those who served in WWI and returned home were rehung in the underside of the lychgate roof. Finally, the further coats of preservatives to the timbers and roof could be applied and the rest of the work on the brickwork could be carried out. As well as achieving an improvement to the structure to enable it to be there for many more years, the restoration of the honour boards has been particularly successful. In recent years, it had become increasingly difficult to be able to read the names of those listed on the boards. Today, the names and any with medal awards received are clear to see. This has been much appreciated by those families who, through social media groups, have become aware of the restoration work carried out on the boards where their grandfather or great grandfathers have been listed. We are hoping that more descendants of the men listed will become aware of this and we will be able to learn more about what happened to those men on their return home from active service. In October at this year’s flower festival at St. Leonard’s Church there will a rededication service and celebration of the repaired lychgate to which everyone interested can attend. We are grateful to all those who contributed to the funding of this project, and that includes St. Leonard’s Church, The War Memorials Trust, Sandridge Parish Council, Cllr Annie Brewster and residents of Sandridge Parish. It is now important that people visit to see and appreciate this historic memorial and that we continue to look after the lychgate to ensure that the memory of those who died and those who served is never forgotten. Councillor Jenny Roberts