Decision details

Name and description of project:

Renovation and Improvement of the Hythe War Memorial – The monument is stained and needs professional cleaning.  The area in front of the memorial needs refurbishment.  We intend to resurface the oval area within the curtilage with a large poppy design inlaid to a resin bonded surface together with refurbishment of the existing benches and cleaning the marble and brickwork.

The Hythe War Memorial commemorates both the First and Second World Wars and is a centre for remembrance in the town.  The monument is stained and needs professional cleaning. The area in front of the memorial needs refurbishment. We intend to resurface the oval area within the curtilage with a large poppy design inlaid to a resin bonded surface together with refurbishment of the existing benches and cleaning the marble and brickwork.  We intend to create a suitable and inspirational, permanent visual enhancement of the Memorial of all those former residents of Hythe both military and civilian who made the Supreme Sacrifice.  

Shortly before or on Remembrance Sunday 2018 we intend to have a Service of dedication and with the help of local schoolchildren, produce a commemorative programme.

DECISION:

To provide funding of £500 to the above project.

Reason for decision:

This enhancement of the memorial and the commemoration service to mark the Centenary of the end of WW1 will, we are confident, engage all the community especially the young people and residents of Hythe.  It will reinforce understanding of the military history of the town and, engage long term residetns and those who have moved more recently to the town and it will be a lasting memorial.

On the anniversary of the end of WW1, there will be a Remembrance Service which, we anticipate will include a large military band, a contingent from the Small Arms School Corps who are Freemen of the Town, representatives of the Gurkha Regiment, Regional Associates, The Royal British Legion, Navy, Army and Air Force Cadets, Scouts, Guides, pupils from all the Local schools and representatives of local businesses and organisations and also of our Twin Towns of Poperinge and Berck Sur Mer who will join us and lay wreaths.  During the Service, primary school children will read out the names of those who are remembered on the Memorial and all Local Churches will be involved. We expect attendance to be 3,000 plus.