Veterans mobilise to improve village war memorial

Tommy Flynn (left) and Steve Knighton with the bench installed in time for this year's Armistice Day on Tuesday 11 November

The Union flag will fly proudly from a new pole at Wibsey's revamped war memorial in time for this year's Armistice Day service.

A year-long campaign has raised £2,500 to pay for the installation of a memorial bench as well as the white flagpole which towers above the village on the outskirts of Bradford.

Members of the Dog & Gun Wibsey Veterans Group coordinated the appeal after a suggestion by a local businessman.

Group founder Tommy Flynn, who served with the Royal Corps of Transport (RCT) from 1979 until 1985 and later with the Territorial Army, said other flags would be flown to mark special occasions, adding: "It's not just a war memorial, it's also for all the people of the area."

The 62-year-old maintains the site which sits at the top of St Enochs Road overlooking the city.

He said flags would be flown to mark occasions including St George's Day, St Andrew's Day, St David's Day and St Patrick's Day - as well as Yorkshire Day.

The group, which meets on the first Sunday of every month, was set up just two years ago but now has 108 servicemen and women from the Army, Navy and RAF as members.

Mr Flynn said: "We're showing our respects to (those) who've lost their lives serving their country from World War One right up until the present day, and we do remember them all."

Members of the Dog & Gun Wibsey Veterans Group helped to raise the funds to pay for the new flagpole and bench

There are plaques on either side of the war memorial's stone plinth commemorating the fundraising effort

Steve Knighton is the group's liaison officer and served with the British Army for seven years between 2001 and 2008, mostly with the Royal Signals.

He said: "This was a project that started with a friend of ours, a chap called Sean Charlton who runs the local barber's shop.

"He came up with the idea of having a flagpole installed... as well as a bench, so people could sit down and remember the fallen or people they may have lost over the years."

Mr Knighton, 40, who now works for Bradford Council and is a magistrate, said an online campaign was set up with various fundraising events held.

The ornate bench with a military design and inscriptions was made by a local firm in Bingley.

He said: "Obviously it's council land so we had to get permission.

"They granted us (that) and the rent that we needed, which is known as a peppercorn rent which is an old-fashioned rent agreement.

"That was really good of the local authority to be so accommodating."

The bench and flagpole will get their first official use at this year's Armistice Day commemorations on Tuesday 11 November.

Mr Knighton said permission for road closures had been granted as they expected a large crowd based on last year's attendance.

He said: "I think that people get forgotten about a little bit when they leave the military.

"That's up until you get towards Remembrance weekend and then, when we're out selling poppies, you do get a lot of people coming up and saying thank you.

"It's just nice to give back."

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