Summary

Some Newsletter, five months following the last! Apologies. In fact, quite a bit has been going on, mainly with the preparation of gates: their installation and commemoration, and the waymarking of more Memorial Walks. The Parish Footpath Officers organised two village walks, both well attended. Memorial gate openings relating to Thomas Cook and Stanley Hughes mentioned in February’s ‘Future intentions’ remain in that category!

Situation, 14th June 2018

All the walks have been reconnoitred. Twelve have been waymarked. That named after Pte William Jones of the South Wales Borderers has its memorial gate in place behind Pembridge church. William lived in Bearwood, which in 1918 was part of Eardisland parish which explains how his name came to be inscribed on Eardisland’s war memorial – and not that of Pembridge. Visitors or indeed anyone might choose to drive up to Pembridge and make a circular trip beginning and ending in the village. The complete walk starts and ends at Eardisland’s War Memorial as normal.

The gate installed – or rather reinstalled – is a renovated wrought iron piece brought from a state of total dilapidation to something rather splendid due to the skills of blacksmith Owen Mabbort whose workshop is in Shirl Heath, (check ‘Gates’ on the Home page for an image). William Jones’ gate is distinguished by a brass plaque, attached to the gate and mounted on a piece of Eardisland grown oak.

The project thanks Jacqui Thomas of Pembridge’s Parochial Church Council for all her help in bringing the installation about. A ceremony was held on 30th May,100 years from the day that William was killed in action in France. He was 19 years old and the church bell tolled 19 times. Lt Col. Bridget Rose, who is President of the Pembridge branch of the Royal British Legion, was present while Major Alan Harrhy – who was a serving officer with the South Wales Borderers and is now President of Herefordshire Royal British Legion – unveiled the plaque. The project is extremely grateful to both.

Then on 5th June a further gate was opened, this one made from oak and dedicated to Pte George Roberts of the Grenadier Guards. It stands at the high point on Burton Lane, between two of Eardisland’s footpaths. The opening took the form of an interlude during a village walk organised by the Parish Council’s footpath officers, Sue Wallis and Jo Watson. The plaque was unveiled by George Robert’s great niece, Mrs Mary Robinson of Leominster and her two sons, both of whom served in the British Army. Mrs Robinson spoke movingly, calling the gate a tangible expression of the esteem in which we hold these heroes and their courage and self sacrifice for the benefit of mankind and for their country.” The event was covered by BBC West Midlands and made the Evening News’ programme. What made the walk aspect really special was the cream and scones tea laid on in the Village Hall and thanks are due to Mandy Vernon, who made them all as well as Diane Lee and Anne Whiting who made sure everyone present had enough.

Future intentions

On the 27th June and as part of Leominster Council’s Armed Forces Week programme, we have a walk organised for our Harold Speke route from the centre of the village to the weir and back via Broom Lane. We hope it will be as well attended as other walks to date. We also hope to be joined by visitors, including those attracted to a gate opening – one dedicated of course to Private Harold Speke. Harold lived at the Cross Inn, tried to join the Army when underage; failed, and then managed to join later but perhaps formally still too young to enlist. He was killed near Passchendaele during the eponymous Second Battle. So, the gate is a monument to this lad and it’s appropriate to be in its position. A practical detail: notices which have found their way pinned to the old gate can in future be better read by passers-by when pinned to the swanky new board adjacent to the gate.

Involvement

Many thanks as ever to ETeam personnel for helping with heavy work. Otherwise, (repeating the last newsletter), the project would be grateful for volunteers to act as custodians (kind of) for each path. They would check on upkeep, ensure waymarks are correctly in place, clean up and burnish plaques, and generally ‘own’ the path. This will not impact or substitute the responsibilities of the Footpaths Officers or Herefordshire Council. Marking the paths outside Eardisland can be much like one of those old TV programmes featuring the adventures of pith helmet wearing Major John Blashford-Snell ( if you were around in the 1980s), but we are only asking volunteers to walk and report on reasonably cleared paths.

Research

While again repeating things: any information on our 13 fallen soldiers or relatives of parishioners, or any contextual stuff relating the First World War in Eardisland would be very welcome. It could be that it features in a supper night planned for 9th November when menus, music, film and artefacts (as yet unknown) will be enjoyed by willing participants having a memorable experience in the village hall.
Correspondence should be directed to contact@eardislandmemorialwalks.org.uk

Summary

Matters have slowed during January, mainly for administrative reasons, although preparation for a memorial gate dedicated to Stanley Hughes was completed. A snag in planning a route through part of Kingsland has altered selected routes for two memorial walks although this will not affect any of the project’s staged objectives. Activities will accelerate as the weather improves.

Situation, 5th February 2018.

Pte Stanley George Hughes’ gate has been installed. It is situated just west of the Weir on the riverside path to Pembridge. The memorial walk takes Broom Lane up to Twyford, crosses a field to the main road and turns back to Eardisland using the footpath following the line of the River Arrow, which is picked up just after the bridge in Pembridge. Waymarks are in place. The bulk of the funds used for oak, and of course the gate’s making, has been provided by the Royal Irish Regiment.

Future intentions

Opening ceremonies will be arranged both for Thomas Cook from the Herefordshire Regiment and Simon Hughes (he lived at Little Broom) who served with the Royal Irish Fusiliers. Invitations will be sent out as appropriate and anyone from the Parish with good intentions is welcome to come along.

A walk named for Harry Smith will be waymarked. It goes up to Street Court farm, over the old railway to Shobdon and back via a path around the aerodrome. Likewise, a walk dedicated to William Jones which takes in his home in Bearwood will be waymarked over the next two weeks.

Guide brochures will be available at the community shop, Rita’s and the Caravan Park in Eardisland.

Involvement

Many thanks to Ronnie Steed, Reg Curtis, Phil Milchard and Sandy Ross for their work in installing the Stanley Hughes’ gate. As usual, Stuart Staples put all the furniture on with the precision needed to make it swing.

Graham Madeley is, apart engaging in the research activities relating to our soldiers and thus key to the overall aim of the project, in charge of assuring that the oak used for the gates is prepared to memorial standard. Without space provided by Bill Tong, this activity would be severely constrained. Elaine Harper edits the guide brochures and ensures that the author’s ramblings make sense and maintain consistency with the highest standards of syntax and grammar. Where not, it’s the author’s fault!

The project would be grateful for volunteers to act as custodians (kind of) for each path. They would check on upkeep, ensure waymarks are correctly in place, clean up and burnish plaques, and generally ‘own’ the path. This will not impact or substitute the responsibilities of the Footpaths Officers or Herefordshire Council.

There are also tasks to do with guide brochure production and distribution which volunteers might be interested in.

Research

OS Maps up to editions revised in 2005 show a footpath – though not a Public Right of Way – from Shirl Heath (Woodgate Farm track) to Eardisland, in fact entering the Parish by the Thomas Cook gate. It’s shown clearly on older maps including the Series 2 used in the guide brochures. If anyone recalls walking this path, or has heard of it being used, please let us know at contact@eardislandmemorialwalks.org.uk

Background

December marks a whole year since the inception of Eardisland Memorial Walks. At that time, the ambition included having all of our named walks being waymarked with respective brochure-style guides produced. Opting to apply for lottery funding gave rise to consequences affecting this target but expanded the basic concept: we would be able to do much better in enhancing the quality of the project and so achieve a better result.

Situation, end of 2017

At present we have six walks waymarked. Two have memorial gates and one ‘opened’ (Lt Warren Clowes), which simply means that a modest event takes place to create awareness of our Fallen soldier’s life and circumstances leading to his death a hundred or so years ago.

The remaining seven walks are planned with waymarks ready for fixing in relation to three. Only two walks of the four remaining require surveying, which also serves as an opportunity to define where waymarks can be placed. Walks will in several cases pass through neighbouring parishes and those beyond.

As part of the memorial walks’ concept, background information has been gathered on our soldiers to both inform the guides and be collated to prepare a more ambitious publication later in the project. There is of course always more to be discovered about our thirteen men and their stories. Information sources are being identified and what we believe to be facts are being uncovered consistently.

Installing memorial gates is an example of expanding the concept. Finding the most appropriate location for each gate and acquiring sufficient funds to have it made and installed can be complicating factors. In instances other forms of memorial will serve the same purpose of making each named walk unique.

Future intentions

Emphasis will lie on waymarking paths and producing temporary guides. We need to catch up.
The project will step-up its research activities, to include an appeal for information on this website.
Research will complement an initiative whereby the walks’ objectives are included in an educational programme at Kingsland School.
With support to include donations, the project will install appropriate gates and memorials at a steady pace to open walks at shorter intervals. (An improved tempo is likely to inspire other initiatives and greater voluntary participation.)

Involvement

Eardisland Memorial Walks is grateful to numerous individuals for supporting the project in a wide variety of ways. Within the Parish members of the Eardisland History Group, the Village Shop, the Parish Council (including footpath officers) and E Team have given time and effort without which the project would have foundered. The Shop, Rita’s Tearooms and Discover Parks distribute guides and Burton Court has hosted part of a walk opening event. We are grateful for support from our Ward Councillor and the Herefordshire Lieutenancy. Memorial gates have been installed with the co-operation of landowners in Eardisland and Kingsland. Various kindnesses to include help with transport, guide design and production, pictures for the website, workspace provision and walk surveys are much appreciated. Professional voluntary services include finishing off gates to a high standard and producing media photographs taken at our events – thanks to Stuart Staples and Jay Watson respectively.

More volunteers are needed. Tasks can be straightforward and take up little time, others more complex. Get in touch and we can talk about what you might want to do.