Winning design selected for county's war memorial

The winning design of a new memorial dedicated to Nottinghamshire people who lost their lives in the first world war has been chosen.

The memorial, proposed by Letts Wheeler Architects, will feature the names of the 14,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen and civilians across the county who died, including many from the Advertiser area.

It is being developed as the centrepiece to commemorations marking 100 years since the end of the first world war.

The chosen memorial is an elevated, circular design, giving a protected space for reflection.

A five-metre high monument will feature in the centre, explaining the purpose of the memorial.

There will be space lower down for poppies to be placed in the lead up to Remembrance Day and other events.

Lighting under the holes will aim to create a stunning effect at night for visitors.

Names of the fallen will be etched into the circular stone surrounding the monument, with lighting to the top of the ring to illuminate the surface and the names.

The winning design, one of three options to be shortlisted, was a favourite among the public and politicians.

Formally launched on Armed Forces Day, it will be erected in the Memorial Gardens on Nottingham’s Victoria Embankment.

At present, there are hundreds of individual memorials to Nottinghamshire’s Great War fallen scattered across the county and further afield in parks, workplaces, churches and other locations, but nowhere brings together all their names in one place.

Colonel Tim Richmond, vice-Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire, said: “I believe this memorial, which honours the fallen from our city and county in the Great War, will be a fitting tribute to their sacrifice.

“Bringing together the names from some 700 memorials across the county, and some names that have never been recorded on a memorial, together with the county’s roll of honour, which is online, records the details of all those who died and their names will truly live for evermore.”

Nottinghamshire County Council leader Mrs Kay Cutts said: “The winning design was the overwhelming favourite among everyone I spoke to and I am delighted it has been chosen.

“It will serve as a powerful and poignant reminder about the ultimate sacrifice those 14,000 people made for us.

“I sincerely hope the public and businesses of Nottinghamshire get behind the project by making a donation, however small, to help us make this wonderful memorial a reality.”

Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council, along with the county’s seven district and borough councils, including Newark and Sherwood, have pledged a total of £270,000 for the project.

It is hoped the remaining £50,000 that is needed will be made up of donations from local people and businesses.

People can donate through the Nottingham Open Spaces Forum at: http://nosf.org.uk/roll-of-honour

To read some of the stories of some of those who will be remembered on the war memorial, read this week's Advertiser.