Cleaning up Brislington War Memorial

Posted by andrew varney | Updated 2020-09-30

The Brislington Lib Dems are cleaning the War Memorial ready for Remeberance Day

Brislington War Memorial

As people hurtle along the busy Bath Road in and out of town, they would be forgiven for failing to notice the Brislington War Memorial. Situated next to the Lodekka Public House and opposite the entrance to Kensington Park Road, it is a simple yet beautiful monument to our fallen heroes. Set in a semi-circle of iron railings, there is a stone cross bearing a sword of sacrifice above a wreath, both in relief. The inscription upon the cross reads:

1914-1918 IN PROUD AND GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THOSE FROM THE PARISH OF BRISLINGTON WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WARS. 1939-1945

However, the monument has been somewhat neglected in recent years and is in desperate need of some care and attention. Jos said, ‘Lots of weeds are growing through cracks in the pavement, the metal railings surrounding the monument are badly corroded, a large amount of litter has become trapped in the undergrowth behind the railings and there are several overhanging branches rubbing against the top of the cross, which could potentially cause damage’. Andrew added, ‘Every year, Jamie Park, the landlord of the adjacent Lodekka pub, does an annual tidy-up prior to Remembrance Sunday. This year, we want to give him a helping hand to ensure our Brislington War Memorial is looking its very best’.

Poppy Box at the Loddeka

Therefore, this Saturday 3 October, starting at 10am, we have organised a working party to clean it up. We have contacted the Royal British Legion, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and Bristol City Council to get the necessary permissions in place before we start work. We plan to scrub the cross with soap and water, pick up the litter, do some weeding, cut back the undergrowth and overhanging branches, and rub down the railings. The following Saturday, 10 October, we intend to start repainting the railings.

As we approach Remembrance Day on 11 November, we hope to decorate the railings with hundreds of knitted poppies. St Luke’s and St. Cuthbert’s Churches in Brislington have already donated several dozen poppies, but if you would like to knit one in remembrance of a loved one, please do and we will add it to the display. We have left a ‘poppy box’ at the entrance to the Lodekka, where your poppies can be deposited up to Friday 30 October. If you can help out with any of these activities, please get in touch.

One of the knitted poppies