ALL OF the borough’s war memorials are to be restored ahead of the World War One centenary.

Contractors working to spruce up many of the council’s 10,300 council homes have agreed to clean up and fix memorials ahead of the 100th anniversary of the first World War on August 4.

The memorial in Tilbury has already been restored and the success of that project has inspired contractors Lakehouse, Wates and Keepmoat to give the borough’s other memorials some tender, love and care at no cost to residents.

All memorials except the one in Horndon on the Hill, which is bieng restored by another private company will undergo works.

The announcement came just a day after a rededication service was held in East Tilbury at the Bata World War Two memorial after that underwent a £10,000 refurb, funded by the Lottery Heritage Fund and the local community forum.

Barbara Brownlee, the council’s director of housing said: “The work on the memorials will be completed to a council specification and the high standard of this can be seen at Tilbury where the memorial was refurbished earlier this month by Wates.”

Phil Sperring, Business Director (South Maintenance) of Wates Living Space added: “In Thurrock we have committed to a number of initiatives that we hope will have a positive impact on the local community.

“The refurbishment of the war memorial in Tilbury was a particularly important project and it is rewarding to see how well the work has been received by residents - so much so that it has led to the refurbishment of all memorials in the area.

“The memorials provide Thurrock residents with a place to commemorate local people who lost their lives fighting for the country and we are proud to be able to play such an integral part in the restoration process.”

 

*A REDEDICATION service was held at the Bata Second World War memorial in East Tilbury after it underwent a £10,000 refurbishment recently.

The 11 workers at Bata, missing off the original bronze plaques but added to new granite plaques - affixed to the stone as part of its restoration - were honoured. 

Dozens of people turned out for the event, including Monica Pignall, the grandaughter of Thomas Bata, owner of the Bata Shoe Factory. 

The mayor of Thurrock, Tony Fish, Lord Petre, the Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Thurrock MP Jackie Doyle-Price and Stephen Metcalfe, the South Basildon and East Thurrock MP were at the ceremony.

Thurrock Gazette:

Dozens of people turned out for the rededication ceremony on in East Tilbury on Sunday [Pics by Rob Lay]