Finchampstead War Memorial which was removed earlier this year from its position at the bend of The Ridges (B3348) in Finchampstead stands in its new position in the centre of the village at the Memorial Park and Hall. The reason for its removal was owing to it being located on a blind bend where accidents appear to be on the rise. Residents set up a group to save the memorial objecting to its removal as they felt it was the right place to remember Finchampstead’s war dead and was a disrespectful thing to do.
In. a BBC interview Ian Adnams from Save the Memorial Group said
It is complete and utter direspect to those names on the memorial, the site was chosen to honour them, We are not honouring them by ripping it out of the ground and putting somewhere else where it is more convenient to us today
Councillor Graham Jukes of Finchampstead Paris Council explained that they had contacted the families whose relatives’ names were on the memorial including most recently a soldier who died in Afghanistan. He stated that they had full discussions with them who were fully supported of the relocation of the memorial. You can listen to an interview between Save The Memorial Group and Parish Councillor
Consultation of Finchampstead Residents
A consultation on the potential relocation of the War Memorial took place in June to July 2021. 5500 consultation documents were distributed to households across the Parish and there was a high response rate of 10.8%.
Of those responding 89% supported the proposed relocation of the Memorial to the site adjacent to the Memorial Park, and 11% objected to the relocation. Of those objecting, almost 40% supported the relocation of the Memorial, but not to the chosen site.
You can download the full consultation document here
Traffic accidents
The junction is physically too narrow for two vehicles to pass on the northeast side of the Memorial when traveling from the California Crossroads to The Ridges. Due to the topography and construction, the road has a blind bend where Jubilee Road and Rectory Hill meet to the west of the Memorial. Collision data mapping reveals that it is the bend that is the major cause of accidents, combined with speed and vehicles crossing the central line as they approach the bend in the road traveling south and north. In the period from 2000 to 2021 there have been 10 injury accidents involving 16 vehicles, 10 minor injuries, and 2 serious injuries (reported traffic accidents). Anecdotally there have been more that have gone unreported, as noninjury accidents are not recorded.
There were open fields where the Memorial Park and Memorial Hall, dedicated to the memory of those who died in the World Wars, now stand, and there were just a handful of dwellings situated along that stretch of road –
Feelings among some parishioners ran high and they wanted the War Memorial to stay where it is this year will be the first for local people to pay their respects at the memorial now in its new home at the Memorial Park
Remembrance Day Friday 11th November 2022
What is the difference between Remembrance Day and Armistice Day?
The UK has come together for Remembrance Day, which is also known as Armistice Day. A two-minute silence was held at 11am to remember the people who have died in wars around the world. Remembrance Day marks the day World War One ended, at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month, in 1918.
What happened on Armistice Day 1918?
The Armistice of 11 November 1918 was the armistice signed at Le Francport near Compiègne that ended fighting on land, sea and air in World War I between the Allies and their last remaining opponent, Germany. Previous armistices had been agreed with Bulgaria, the Ottoman Empire and Austria-Hungary.
Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth member states since the end of the First World War to honour armed forces members who have died in the line of duty. Following a tradition inaugurated by King George V in 1919, the day is also marked by war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth countries