Dear Resident

On Thursday 24th February 2022 a Rededication and Unveiling Ceremony of the Grange Villa Methodist Church Memorial Plaque was carried out. The Plaque was originally displayed in the Grange Villa Methodist Church until it was privately sold.

The owner of the chapel (Cllr Michelle Radford) tried to arrange for the plaque to be transferred locally and to be on display. Unfortunately, no progress was made at the time and the memorial has been carefully stored in her home. Cllr Radford asked if the Parish Council could arrange for the memorial to be placed on public display. After the Parish Council researched into it (as unsure if it could be displayed in a non religious building) then it was agreed to look into a public location. Grange Villa Enterprise Centre offered to have the Plaque displayed in their building and Mr Blewitt, the husband of one of the trustees polished it and hung it up. The position has been chosen as a prominent site which can be viewed by those entering the building when it’s open and look through the window and see it when it’s closed. Therefore, it’s on permanent display. The next step was to arrange a Rededication Ceremony but covid 19 cases were on the rise again so that was postponed until a date was provided of 24.2.22. This is a copy of the Order of Service- Grange Villa Methodist Church Memorial Rededication Service 24.2.22

Mrs Dorothy Hall, North East War Memorials Project kindly offered to research information about the 6 men who are named on the plaque- George W. Hutton, Henderson P. Jobson, Adam Kerr, George W. Mains, John G. Middlemas and George E. Taylor.  Mrs Hall found out a lot of information which was shared on display boards. There was an opportunity to take a look at the information after the service for those in attendance. The information will also be on display in Grange Villa Enterprise Centre this week. if you have any questions please contact the Parish Clerk.

Major (Retd) Chris Lawton MBE DL, Reverend Ian Kent, Mrs Hall, Mr Brian Laverick and Cllr Danny Wood (Chair of the Parish Council) took part in the service and were joined by 2 local school children. Daniel Naughton and Phoebe Seymour who are Year 6 pupils at Roseberry Primary School volunteered to take part in the ceremony during their school holidays. Daniel and Phoebe read out the names of the 6 men and helped with the Unveiling Ceremony. The Parish Council would also like to thank Paula and Jean from the Grange Villa Enterprise Centre who provided refreshments and home made cakes after the service.

Below are a selection of photos taken by Mr Nigel Seymour who volunteered to be the ‘official photographer’.