New war memorial a sign of 'community commitment'

Local people raised money to help pay for the new memorial in Fulwell

The unveiling of a new war memorial shows the "commitment of the community" who raised close to £15,000 to fund part of its costs, a councillor has said.

The sculpture, in the Fulwell area of Sunderland, incorporates a memorial plaque from the original war memorial that stood on the site.

Conservative councillor Michael Hartnack said the new structure was a "fitting monument" to all those from the region who had sacrificed their lives.

The steel artwork, designed by sculptor Colin Wilbourn, depicts two large poppies.

The original memorial, which was installed in 1930, consisted of a shelter with a memorial plaque that listed the names of several local residents who had fought and lost their lives in World War One.

However the shelter was damaged in a fire and destroyed in 1971. Nevertheless the original plaque was saved and put into a wall.

Colin Wilbourn said he was pleased people liked the sculpture.

In 2022 the Friends of Fulwell War Memorial put forward a plan to refurbish the memorial and gained planning permission in June 2024.

Hartnack said it had been a "challenge" to raise the £50,000 needed but close to £15,000 had come from local people.

"That shows the commitment of the community to actually want to contribute," he said.

Mr Wilbourn said he was "over the moon" that locals seemed to like the sculpture.

He said the memorial made him think of his father who had fought in the World War Two.

"He came back, he lost his friends, he lost his youth and he lost his career," he said, adding he hoped the sculpture would help ensure the sacrifices of all those who fought in wars were remembered.