A COUPLE of weeks ago I was contacted by Robin Grange, a Southwater resident keen for the village to have its own war memorial.
Mr Grange is the project manager for the newly created Southwater War Memorial Fund and he wrote to me in the hope that I may be able to assist in making the memorial a reality.
Well, I am exploring ways that central government may be able to h
elp with raising the necessary £10,000 but I am completely confident that once again, the community of Southwater will rally together to fight for something that their village wants and will cherish.
After all, this was the story with Southwater Post Office which was reopened after a fight that saw local residents, the parish council and district councillors united in their goal.
The war memorial fund seems to be little different. Due to the enthusiasm of Mr Grange, his wife and other group members, a design for the memorial has already been chosen, an ideal location has been found, an exhibition has been held in the village library and every local business has been contacted in an appeal for funds.
The parish council is strongly backing the project and Horsham District Council has already confirmed that it would not object to a licence to allow the memorial to be erected, subject to the usual planning permission.
This is community spirit at its finest and I'm sure it will be community action, not government input that will see the Southwater War Memorial in place before Remembrance Sunday 2008.
As Mr Grange pointed out, this date would be particularly fitting as it is, of course, the 90th anniversary of the end of the First World War.
So I would echo the appeal that has already been made in the County Times for local people and local businesses to make a donation, if they possibly can.
A memorial would be a tremendous focal point for the village, in fact, you might say the ideal finishing touch following its redevelopment. It would also be a fitting tribute to local service people who, since 1914, have given their lives fighting for our country.
Donations can be taken to the parish council offices in Beeson House, Lintot Square or can be posted to Janey Grange at 114 Woodlands Way, Southwater RH13 9DR or to Patricia Laker at 12 Woodfield, Southwater RH13 9EN.
Cheques should be made payable to Southwater War Memorial Fund.
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