WDH helps restore war memorial

Community spirit in Kinsley has received a boost thanks to a £500 contribution from Wakefield and District Housing’s (WDH) Community Grant scheme towards the cost of repairing a damaged war memorial.

The WDH Local Management Committee (LMC) awarded the grant to the Kinsley and Fitzwilliam Community Safety Action Group (KFCSA), which has been working tirelessly to raise funds to repair the memorial ever since a car crashed into it two years ago.

Group representative Ann Westmorland says the funds were vitally important to restoring the focal point for the Kinsley community.

“I’ve lived in Kinsley all my life and for as long as I remember the memorial has been a place that brings the people of our community together,” explains Ann. "That’s why the money from WDH is very welcome.”

Ann explains how the entire project was a learning experience for everyone involved in its reparation.

“Repairing a war memorial isn’t something you do every day,” she says. “We learned that it’s not just an expensive process, it’s also how hard you have to work to find people who have the necessary specialist skills to restore such a delicate and important heritage site.”

Luckily the group located a company 250 miles away that agreed to do meticulous restoration work on the memorial.

Richard Rogers, CEO of Richard Rogers Conservation Limited in Surrey, says it wasn’t just a business decision that will see him travel up to Kinsley when he begins his work in September.

“We’re passionate about saving and protecting the heritage of areas,” he says. “For us this war memorial is all about helping the community.”

Presenting the £500 WDH cheque to local World War 2 veteran Mr William Crapper, LMC chair Betty Sykes said the repairs would be completed by this year’s Remembrance Day.

“It’s important to have it repaired by 11 November when the community comes together to remember the fallen,” she said. ”Bringing communities together is something WDH encourages.”