The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

spoons · Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 8:22 pm Post subject: any memorials in need of repair?

I know we have other threads on the subject, but having just had success with getting War Memorials Trust to arrange repairs to Keir and Upper Sorbie memorials, I thought I would ask.

If you know of any memorials in need of repairs, minor (letters missing etc) or more serious (structural) then I would be happy to act as a go-between with the WMT to get the local council to do some work where possible.

WMT does administer grants towards repairs and relocation (but not routine maintenance) and Scotland seems to get much less than its fair share.

\Paul

Adam Brown · Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 6:48 am Post subject:

Paul

Although it's good to see memorials repaired and in good condition does this funding from the WMT encourage councils to neglect their memorials?

Surely something like lettering being replaced should be part of a council's regular maintenance, they are in the council's care after all.

I hope councils don't see the WMT as an excuse to leave memorials to detriorate until they meet the criteria for WMT funding.

Thanks

Adam

spoons · Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 7:32 am Post subject:

I agree with regards lettering but I don't think the council have even applied for a grant for the Keir memorial - however they did repair it after an approach from WMT. I don't think that routine maint or the lack of it would affect such things as structural cracks or lettering needing to be recut but it's obviously something the trust will want to keep an eye on. I think the local council's maint program is cleaning only.

\Paul

FortyTwa · Joined: 12 May 2009 Posts: 128 Location: United Kingdom

Although the memorial hall to the Maxwell brothers in Padanaram (near Kirriemuir) has been refurbished, quite a few of the lead letters on the actual memorial inscritpion are missing. Doubt if replacement would be massively expensive.

spoons · Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 2:03 pm Post subject:

Thanks, I have put an update on the memorial thread.

\Paul

Adam Brown · Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 6:15 pm Post subject:

Thanks Paul

I am probably doing councils a diservice by suggesting they would try and wriggle out of their responsibilities (although look at Mains in Dundee) and actually in a lot of cases I think it is the community council (and sometimes local RBL) who look after the memorials and the local authority is just there to do basic maintenance as part of a schedule of other work.

Thanks

Adam

kinnethmont · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 1649 Location: Aberdeenshire

I think it may depend on the Council. Most in Scotland are very good at maintaing the memorials in which they have an interest. In most cases this has passed to them from the old Parish Councils / Parochial Boards who took them into their " care " in the 1920's since no statute related to them regarding maintanance, etc.
You have to remember some are owned or vested in the Council whereas others are not linked to them at all, with some in private ownership. In this case it is the owner who is fully responsible for their maintainance. Some, of course, are Listed in which case Historic Scotland have an interest
_________________
Jim

If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

www.kinnethmont.co.uk

anne park · Posted: Thu May 13, 2010 7:29 am Post subject: Drumoak, Aberdeenshire

I know that some of the names are needing relettering.

kinnethmont · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 1649 Location: Aberdeenshire

Anne

This has nothing to do with the War Memorials Trust.
Your first contact should be Aberdeenshire Council who, from memory, are responsible for this one. Will check and PM you later to confirm contact details.
They are generally very good at maintainance and look after the vast majority of our memorials in Aberdeenshire.
_________________
Jim

If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

www.kinnethmont.co.uk

spoons · Posted: Thu May 13, 2010 4:19 pm Post subject:

Sorry Jim I do not agree. The War Memorials Trust can and will make an approach to those responsible for the maintenance of a memorial. They will give advice on how best to do the work, companies or individuals suitable to undertake it and offer to consider applications for grants to cover up to 50% of the cost.

This approach has already been effective in getting the Keir War memorial repaired and work is progressing to get exactly this kind of lead lettering replacement done on the Upper Sorbie memorial.

\Paul

kinnethmont · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 1649 Location: Aberdeenshire

Sorry Paul.

Why would you need to contact them in the first instance? I am personally aware that Aberdeenshire Council are very good at keeping up memorials and re-lettering, painting, cleaning, etc. Maybe, on occasion, one has to be drawn to their attention.
If they wish to contact the WMT, that would be a matter for them.
In all cases the first contact should be with those responsible for the memorial.

Anne
In this case I can confirms it is Aberdeenshire Council ( Kincardine & Mearns Area)
_________________
Jim

If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

www.kinnethmont.co.uk

kinnethmont · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 1649 Location: Aberdeenshire

Anne - PM sent

Adam photographed this memorial only a month ago. Apart from some letters requiring a touch up the memorial looks to be in very good condition.

I know that Aberdeenshire inspect the memorials in their area during the summer and organises any work to be done before Armistce Day. Any lettering work I have advised them of over the years has been carried out during this process.

http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=2649&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=drumoak&start=30
_________________
Jim

If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

www.kinnethmont.co.uk

spoons · Posted: Fri May 14, 2010 4:42 pm Post subject:

Jim, I object strongly to you undermining work that I am trying to do to via the War Memorials Trust to get repairs done to memorials. If you have some alternative to suggest, then by all means do so but please refrain from saying things like "it has nothing to do with the war memorials trust" when this is blatantly untrue.

\Paul

kinnethmont · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 1649 Location: Aberdeenshire

Paul

There is no suggestion of undermining anything or anyone and I regret the inference.
The query related to a local Aberdeenshire memorial which I am aware is maintained, possibly owned / vested in Aberdeenshire Council and they budget for this each year. I appreciate things may be different elswhere, but had the query related to Ayshire, for example, I would not have been able to give advice based on local knowledge.

Our Council and former local bodies have looked after our war memorials fairly well since circa 1919 and I feel they should be contacted in the first instance. I have every confidence they will carry out necessary work in due course when Anne reports it. I know they take war memorial appearance very seriously. In my view the " owners / caretakers " , where known, should be given the opportunity to do so before third parties become involved.

Surely, WMT should become directly involved where the " owners " are seriously neglecting memorials, are not known and not where a reasonable job, in hard times is being done. In this case, the Council could contact WMT for a grant if they wished. I suspect they might not.

As Adam's pics show only very minor work required at Drumoak.
_________________
Jim

If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

www.kinnethmont.co.uk