The rededication event took place 7th November 2011
Location
The memorial is located about 100m from the main road, it’s on the left when travelling towards Kings Lynn on the A10 and is near the old buildings Opposite Arbuckles Restaurant & Bar.
While on a bike ride Ellen Hirst and Fraser Davidson discovered the War Memorial and were saddened to see how neglected it was, they decided that they would like to approach the task to restore the Memorial,Their Duke of Edinburgh Silver award required them to complete a Volunteering section and by doing this it would be perfect.
Their plan was to clear the area, (collect old materials, pick up paving slabs) take up any old and broken materials.Scrub and clean the stone, repaint the lettering on face of Memorial in black masonry out door paint. cut down any over grown trees and brambles.Replace the path and standing area, Repair and fix the bridge.
Their aim was to make more people aware of the Memorial and restore it to it’s former glory, which they have done The Branch gave them £100, part of money raised from coffee morning held for that purpose.On 7th November 2011, the Stone Cross War Memorial to 2 local men lost in first World war was rededicated by Father James Mather, local chaplain to the Downham and District RBL
The war memorial was erected in 1917 using an old “boundary stone” as its base, The lads came from Bexwell and Ryston parishes and the stone marks their junction with Downham Market.In recent years this privately erected war memorial had become overgrown and neglected and the hidden away- difficult to access lying as it does in an unmarked area just off the bypass, opposite “Arbuckles Restaurant & Bar” Earlier this year (2011) the 2 youngsters spotted it on a cycle ride in a very dilapidated state and were determined to clean it up.
Encouraged by their parents and entering the project for a Duke of Edinburgh award , the local RBL gave them the funds to acquire the tools and provide ground cover of bark and pavings.,
Today the site and memorial was in a clean and proud condition credit was paid to them by the Honorary President Mr Ivan Sneezum who had unsuccessfully campaigned for several years to have the cross moved to a more visible site like Bexwell church yard, and by Mr Michael Pratt , nephew of one of the men, the chairman of the RBL Mr Horace Cross and finally by the Town Mayor Mrs Cllr Valerie Starling who gave them letters of recommendation to add to their portfolios for their award.A good crowd turned out on a damp misty November afternoon to take part and witness the rededication .
Renovation of Stone Cross War Memorial. Picture & Story Courtesy of Lynn News
Memorial Cleaned