Stolen memorial set to be replaced (From This is Hampshire)

Stolen memorial set to be replaced

12:00am Monday 22nd October 2012 in News

EXACTLY a year after Tidworth residents were outraged by the theft of the town’s bronze war memorial there’s some good news.

A fresh cast of the First World War soldier is expected to be in position in front of the town’s British Legion Club at Pennings Road in time for Armistice Day on 11 November.

The memorial was cast by world famous sculptor Vivi Mallock from Thruxton and installed in 1998 at the behest of the late Councillor Peter Colling because, despite its close military connections, Tidworth had no traditional memorial.

At last year’s Remembrance service the Reverend Malcolm Freeman carried on with the service at the plinth where the statue had stood and spoke of his hope that a new statue would be in position for 2012.

Club secretary Ann Green confirmed that this is now likely.

She said: “It was insured and we are hopeful that it will be in place in time for Remembrance this year although we are waiting for more details about the installation date.”

The original cost £10,000 and was most likely stolen by metal thieves rather than a collector as parts of the memorial were received near Everleigh on Salisbury Plain a few weeks after the theft.

Additional and tighter security measures are to be put in place to help ensure the new statue stay where it belongs.