Fit for heroes

The town centre monument had been tilting due to problems with its foundations but it became unstable last year.

So Abingdon Town Council spent the cash stabilising the 90-year-old structure and revamping its surroundings.

More than 300 people are expected at the town’s service on November 13.

Stan Bradford, president of the Abingdon branch of the Royal British Legion, said it was fit for purpose.

He said: “It was an eyesore. I didn’t think it was a fitting tribute to the lads that had lost their lives in the wars.”

The 88-year-old said he had been campaigning for the problem to be fixed for more than 20 years.

He said: “It is beyond my wildest dreams. I honestly felt I would not see it happen in my time. It has been a thorn in the side for a number of years trying to get money spent on it.”

“It now looks a treat.”

In the £70,994 worth of works earlier this year the memorial was cleaned and stabilised.

The area was repaved, fitted with new benches, and three liquid amber trees were planted to match those in the Market Place.

The town council paid for the scheme with help from a £20,000 grant from Oxfordshire County Council and a £20,000 grant from Abingdon Joint Environmental Trust.

Town clerk Nigel Warner admitted: “It had got a little bit tired over the years.”

Tom Tucker, pictured left, chairman of the Abingdon branch of the RBL, said: “It is a long-awaited job. It is an improvement to the town as well.

“It was getting to be a danger that when it was tilting over and it was going to fall over and on to someone.

“Now with seats and that people can go along and sit and have a bit of thought.”

The monument opposite Barclays Bank was built in 1921 after a local fundraising effort.

Town council leader Sandy Lovatt said: “It’s a very nice memorial. It’s a good thing and we are proud of it.”

The service will start a St Helen’s Church at 9.50am on Sunday, November 13, and last about an hour before the procession moves to the war memorial for the service at 11am.