York Remembers: Lifting the shadow of the First World War

To mark the hundredth anniversary of the First World War, City of York Council has launched its commemorative project York Remembers: Lifting the shadow of the First World War.

The city-wide project will commemorate the 100 year milestone and reflect upon the horrors of war, remembering the 37 million military and civilian casualties of the First World War.  York Remembers will explore a diversity of perspectives on the causes and consequences of the war and explore how we can learn the lessons of the past to help build peace in the future.

Key events for this year’s anniversary commemorations include:

  • Restoration of the Acomb War Memorial and refurbishment work on the 12 WW1 graves located in the St Stephens churchyard
  • Renaming of the Tedder Road park to commemorate Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir William Forster Dickson, GCB, KBE, DSO, AFC who was a Royal Naval Air Service aviator during the First World War 
  • 100 Years:1000 Voices – an inter-school event, bringing together school-aged children to sing commemorative songs about World War One in The Barbican on November 12th.
  • 100 Years Since the Armistice – On November 10th a event by Fishergate, Fulford and Heslington Local History Society tells the life stories of the 86 former pupils of Fishergate School who are named on the Great War Memorial in the school porch.

Volunteers from GoodGym will be starting work on tidying the area around the 12 WW1 graves in St Stephens cemetery on Monday from about 6:30pm

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Action taken on issues in and near Westfield

Shame to see so much disrepair and vandalism in the St Stephens graveyard in Acomb. Several who fell in the First and Second World Wars are buried here. We hope, as part of the commemoration of the end of WW1, some refurbishment work might be possible. More to come

As a minimum, we’ll ask for the War Memorial on The Green to be given a good clean and tidy up in the spring

Good progress is being made on levelling the footpath on the Library side of Front Street

Recent rain has meant that some paths and roads have standing water on them. Part of the footpath on Askham Lane is almost blocked at one point. We’ve reported the locations that we have spotted. To report issues go to https://www.york.gov.uk/reportproblems

Good to see that all the noticeboards in the Westfield Ward are now back in use and are being updated regularly. If you wish to advertise a local event email Foxwoodra@btinternet.com. They have taken over noticeboard management in most of the area

Action taken on these

Police appeal after Acomb church charity box burglary

Police are appealing for information after St Stephens church was burgled and charity cash stolen.
Incident

Offenders broke in to St Stephens Church, York Road, Acomb, sometime between 4.30pm on Saturday 28 November and 7.30am on Sunday 29 November.

Power tools were used to attack three safes. However, the offenders were not able to break in to them, and nothing was taken apart from a small amount of loose change from charity collections.

In any event, the safes contained only paperwork, and nothing of value.

Anyone who saw anything suspicious, or has any information about the burglary, is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police.

Please dial 101, select option 2, and ask for PC Andrew Muir, or email andrew.muir@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Please quote North Yorkshire Police reference number 12150211658.