Decorated General visits Village Project

A project to raise funds to commission two Sculptures for their villages’ Gardens of Remembrance was boosted on Tuesday by a visit from their Patron, Major General Patrick Cordingley.

Members of the Esclusham Community Council held ‘An Evening to Remember’ within Rhostyllen Parish Hall where the General gave a talk, after visiting the gardens and helping to raise awareness for the project. The team have raised over £13000 to date which has enabled them to commission one of the two Sculptures needed, and the evening helped boost the funds further.7

Richard Elias of the organising team said: “Major General Cordingley is a familiar face on television and within government and Military circles, he is a very busy man so we are extremely pleased that he spared the time to come up and visit the project and deliver his talk at our evening event.”

The event was also attended by the Mayor Barbara Roxburgh, Councillors, veterans and representatives of other groups within the community. A short film, poetry reading and display of War artefacts were also part of the evening.

Amanda Richards, who is part of the organising committee said: “The turnout was lovely, with around seventy people enjoying the evening. Thank you’s have to go to all the team members, volunteers and all those that helped pull the evening together and make it such a success.”

The Sculptures will be installed and unveiled in September 2016, where the committee hope to have such dignitaries in attendance once again.

Richard Elias added: “Talks are underway to invite a high profile supporter of our project for the unveiling of the installation next year, and in the meantime fund raising efforts will continue as the cost of this project is significant but the support from the community has been positive.”