FIRST WORLD WAR 100: Re-dedication of war memorial at Preston Plucknett

A POIGNANT and moving ceremony took place this afternoon (Sunday, August 3, 2014) for the re-dedication of a war memorial at Preston Plucknett in Yeovil – on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War.

The memorial – which includes the names of 15 local men who died in the 1914-18 Great War – has been restored with the help of a monumental mason.

The service was led by the Rev Tony Perris, of the nearby St James’ Church, and the Rev Jim Pearce, the Mayor’s Chaplain.

PHOTO - TOP: The war memorial at Preston Plucknett with sprigs of rosemary at its foot to signify remembrance.

Cllr Mike Lock, Mayor of Yeovil, and Cllr Andy Kendall, chairman of the council’s buildings and civic matters committee, were in attendance as well as representatives from the Royal British Legion, and other community groups.

The war memorial was originally dedicated on July 6, 1920, and was first situated in an orchard owned by Richard Ponsonby of Brympton d’Every.

His great-great grandson, Charles Clive-Ponsonby-Fane, was at today’s ceremony which was attended by many local people, some of whom have family connections with the names on the memorial.

PHOTO - LEFT: Charles Clive-Ponsonby-Fane at the Preston Plucknett war memorial.

The memorial, itself, was moved to its current position – on the opposite side of Preston Road – to allow the road to be widened.

Today’s service mirrored that of 94 years ago when the memorial was first dedicated and included the hymn Nearer, my God, to Thee.

Children from PrestonPrimary School helped to re-plant the flower beds along the front of the memorial and members of the Yeovil Youth Council have been researching the names inscribed on the war memorial.

Youth Council members Zoe Braddick, James Gard and Natasha Dennington read out during the ceremony those names of the fallen.

James also read a poem, he had written, entitled Remember Them All.

People at the ceremony were given sprigs of rosemary – the symbol of remembrance – and they were able to place these in a basket at the foot of the memorial.

PHOTOS - ABOVE: Laying sprigs of rosemary at the foot of the war memorial. Rosemary is a symbol of remembrance.

PHOTO - ABOVE LEFT: Simon Woodrow, of the Yeovil branch of the Royal British Legion.

PHOTO - ABOVE RIGHT: Rev Tony Perris, of St James' Church, who led today's service at the war memorial.

PHOTO - ABOVE LEFT: Mayor of Yeovil, Cllr Mike Lock.

PHOTO - ABOVE RIGHT: The Mayor's Chaplain, Rev Jim Pearce.

PHOTO - ABOVE: Members of Yeovil Youth Council - Zoe Braddick, James Gard and Natasha Dennington - read out the names of those inscribed on the war memorial at Preston Plucknett.

Tags:
News.