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Rededication service for county war memorial

One of the largest war memorials in the country is to be rededicated this week following a significant refurbishment.

Burnhope War Memorial, on Holmside Lane, was first unveiled in September 1920 and has recently undergone work including replacement of roof tiles and brick work.

Burnhope Parish Council, Friends of Burnhope War Memorial and Mid Durham Area Action Partnership worked together to secure £90,000 for the project.

Funding was received from the War Memorial Trust, the Heritage Lottery Fund, Langley Wind Farm Community Benefits Fund and the parish council, with the refurbishment works competed in October.

Cllr Ossie Johnson and former councillor Richie Young also contributed funding from their neighbourhood budgets through the AAP.

The money is also being used for local volunteers to develop case studies and an education programme around the memorial, which is being supported by officers and volunteers in Durham County Record Office and the Durham Light Infantry.

The study programme, due for completion in December, will be part of the local primary schools’ yearly curriculum and the case studies will be collated and presented in a special edition of the Burnhope Wheel newsletter early in 2018.

Cllr Ossie Johnson, Cabinet member for tourism, culture, leisure and rural issues, said: “The Burnhope War Memorial is a unique and significant structure and is seen by residents as a valuable part of the heritage of the parish.

“Many local families are connected to the memorial, and this has helped the volunteers pull together several case studies which shows what it was like to grow up in Burnhope as well as the horrors of war.”

The rededication will take place at 1.45pm on Friday, 10 November and will be attended by the Chairman of Durham County Council Cllr Bill Kellett and other councillors as well as representatives from Burnhope Parish Council, the War Memorial Trust, Durham County Record Office and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Volunteers from the DLI, members of Friends of Burnhope War Memorial and residents will also be present for the service, which will be conducted by Reverend Rupert Kalus and Reverend Stuart Earl.

By Emily