Park event marks forces day and memorial centenary

Mayor of Wellington Cllr Mark Lithgow led the commemoration on Saturday in Wellington Park of Armed Forces Day and the unveiling of the War Memorial Centenary Plaque marking 100 years since the war memorial was originally unveiled.

The mayor was accompanied by his wife, Sarah, and representatives of the town council, the Wellington branch of the Royal British Legion and a colour party and bugler from Wellington School’s Combined Cadet Force.

Prayers were led by Bob House on behalf of Churches Together in Wellington and the head girl and boy from Rockwell Green Primary School, Molly Lock and Sam Formosa, scattered ashes of memorial crosses, which had been placed around the war memorial on and around Remembrance Sunday last year, on to the Memorial Garden.

After a short ceremony to remember those who had given their lives in conflicts around the world and to show appreciation for the work of current members of the armed forces, the Mayor invited Richard Fox, grandson of F Hugh Fox, who had originally unveiled the war memorial, to unveil the centenary plaque which was covered by a Union Flag as the war memorial had been on June 17, 1921.

More photos in this week’s WWN (July 2).