The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

DerekR · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 11:54 am Post subject: Civic pride and civic shame

On my recent sojourn up the west coast I've been both saddened and impressed by the memorials I've visited.

Noticeable civic pride shown at Poolewe who secured funding to improve the location and access to their memorial. The well kept park at Kinlochleven in an area that could be described as deprived.

And then the unkept, uncared for scene at Broadford on Syke - especially galling as the "touristy" area just 200 yards along the road is a joy to behold.
And the wilderness at Plockton, their memorial totally obscured by scrub. Its like the community there wish to hide their memorial away.

Civic pride and civic shame, it makes me wonder how communities can be so opposite in the commemoration of THEIR dead.
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Time but th' impression stronger makes, As streams their channels deeper wear.

Adam Brown · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 1:02 pm Post subject:

I'm guessing it's not the community as a whole responsible here but the community council. I don't really know how local community councils work but I guess the amount of time / money spent on memorials by a local community will depend on the make up of the local council committee. If you have people interested in their memorial then they will make sure it is maintained, railings painted, flowers planted and well looked after etc. If it happens to be in a public park then it will probably have a better chance of care as well since the memorial is part of the fixtures and fittings of the park.

Recent posts about memorials in churches and schools show that there are a lot of misinformed people out there who are foolishly anti-war memorials. The very people who don't like 'war-things' are the very people who should be making sure memorials are given pride of place in a community but if they are on a local community council then even if they don't remove the memorials or hide them away their indifference will lead to a memorial's neglect. If no one complains they will have no interest in doing anything and spend the money for it's repair / upkeep on other things. They will probably only act if shamed into it.

In the past we've highlighted a few memorials which have been neglected. There is a thread about Memorials in danger. Perhaps highlighting the memorials like Broadford in that thread means we can suggest means of contacting the relevant people to see what can be done?

The recent case of the park gates in Blairgowrie shows what happens when publicity is given to a memorial in danger and however certain individuals in councils feel about memorials when it comes down to it a community will rally behind plans to save a memorial and the council will probably bow to that pressure.

As a forum we are only a group of like minded individuals but should we try and work out who in a loacal area needs to be involved in highlighting these neglected memorials so that councils are shamed into doing something about them?

Do we send letters to local papers? Send e-mails to local councillors? Contact the local RBL? Should we get involved as individuals or as a forum / group? As visitors and outsiders what right do we actually have to be involved in such a local matter?

Lots of questions and no answers here. What are others thoughts on our involvement?

Adam

spoons · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 4:25 pm Post subject:

I think you really need some sort of connection in order to get heavily involved. Mark did a great job in Blairgowrie and I am trying to get something sorted with the memorials in Greyfriars but I think it would be difficult to get motivated about something out of my area of interest or the other end of the country. Just keep bringing them to the attention of the forum and hope there is someone to take on the challenge - seems the best bet to me.

\Paul

DerekR · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 10:33 am Post subject:

The Royal British Legion used to award certifictates for the best kept memorials in certain areas.
It is just a pity that along with listing the best, that they couldn't mention those that require some improvements. However, that is not their role.
There is no easy solution.
_________________

Time but th' impression stronger makes, As streams their channels deeper wear.