£1m fund to save memorials

Tuesday 15 January 2013

A £1 million fund to tackle the dreadful state of many of Scotland's war memorials will bring peace of mind to the families of fallen soldiers, according to veterans' charities.

PEACE OF MIND: War memorials across Scotland, including the Commando statue at Spean Bridge, are to benefit from a £1m restoration fund launched by First Minister Alex Salmond. Picture: Getty Images

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Ben Riley-Smith

First Minister Alex Salmond launched the Centenary Memorials Restoration Fund yesterday at a war memorial in Fyvie, Aberdeenshire. It aims to help communities carry out maintenance on monuments as part of the 100th anniversary of the First World War.

An estimated 5000 to 6000 memorials commemorating those who gave their lives during the Great War and other conflicts could benefit from the scheme.Some 100,000 Scots died at the Western Front, according to estimates, 13% of the British total.Mr Salmond said: "Each memorial in Scotland reminds us of the sacrifice made by those who died during the Great War, the Second World War and other conflicts. They remind us of the futility of war and the necessity that we never forget the sacrifice made by those who fell in conflict."Historic Scotland will administer the fund which will be available until 2018.Kevin Gray, general secretary of the Royal British Legion Scotland, said: "This is an absolutely fabulous idea. "It will have a huge impact on quality because it should allow current work that is needed on these war memorials to go ahead. There has just been a lack of money. Now that we have sorted the lack of money and increased the will, basically the sky's the limit."Captain Jim Springthorpe, secretary of the Royal Scots Benevolent Fund, said: "This is great news. A lot of these memorials are starting to look a wee bit run down. It will mean a great deal to the families. It will give them peace of mind."

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£1m fund to save memorials

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