A ceremony to unveil a new memorial plaque, commemorating the men and women from Aldeby who lost their lives during the First World War, was hailed as a “fantastic” success.Following a fundraising campaign and a significant grant from Norfolk Community Foundation’s First World War fund, Aldeby Parish Council unveiled the plaque at Millenium Mound, on Beccles Road, on Sunday.
Four names had been missing from the original memorial, with another spelt wrong, with the new plaque now commemorating all the men of Aldeby who gave their lives during the First and Second World Wars.
Council clerk Graham Kerridge said around 20 people attended the event, with tea and cake provided.
He said: “It was a fantastic community event because the community gave so much towards it. We had so much support from Clinks Care Farm which installed the memorial absolutely free of charge.
“The charity baker David Brown baked all the cakes and John Richardson printed all of the programmes for free.
“Somebody who was related to one of the names on the memorial came across from Lowestoft as well.”
He added: “I am an ex-serviceman and it was emotional. There was a piece read out from a retired major who opened the ceremony and gave a short speech and there was a reading from a young lady from the Air Cadets.
“I have had quite a few people who have been in touch afterwards who have said it looking stunning. We also had a Tommy silhouette which we put on the bench near the memorial. It has now been gifted to St Mary’s Church in Aldeby.”
Chairman of Aldeby Parish Council, Tim Wright, said the memorial had additional significance due to the attendance of family members of those who gave their lives during the war.
He said: “It has taken hard work to get it to where it is today and we are enormously grateful for the help and support from everybody who gave and made it all possible.
“Some people have been extremely generous with their time and labour to make it possible. It is a good feeling. It has helped people explore what their history is and I think that is a good thing that people are not forgotten.”
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