York Remembers: Tommy statue supports Armed Forces and mental health charities

York is supporting the national ‘there but not there’ appeal to raise £15 million for Armed Forces and mental health charities with its own tommy statue.

In Westfield, Councillors have been consulting on installing a “Tommy” figure (on a temporary basis) next to the War Memorial on Acomb Green.

The tommy art installation has seen silhouettes of First World War ‘tommy’ soliders appearing at locations across the country, including at the Tower of London and on the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland.

The installations are a poignant reminder of the 888,246 British and Commonwealth soldiers – 1447 men and women from York – who died and of those who survived but suffered physical and mental scars. The silhouettes will tour the nation until Armistice Day to raise funds for a new charity called Remembered.

York’s tommy statue has been placed outside the customer entrance to West Offices, Station Rise.

The statue is part of York’s commemorations to mark 100 years since the end of the First World War. The city will host over 70 events, projects and exhibitions as part of a programme of events called York Remembers: lifting the shadow of the First World War.

The official programme for York remembers: Lifting the shadow of the First World War is available online at www.york.gov.uk/WW1Commemorations

The money raised from the tommy statues will be shared evenly between The Royal Foundation: Heads Together, Walking With The Wounded, Combat Stress, Help for Heroes: Hidden Wounds, The Commonwealth War Graves Foundation and Project Equinox: Housing Veterans.

For more information on the there but not there campaign visit www.therebutnotthere.org.uk/

In Westfield residents have giving their views on how the Acomb War Memorial gardenson The Green could be improved.  

Work is progressing on repairing the stonework on the Acomb War Memorial itself. The work, being undertaken by the Civic Trust, is expected to be completed by 11th November.

In a survey local Councillors asked what other improvements might be made.

The most popular suggestion was the provision of an interpretation board. This will be pursued if a sponsor comes forward. The cost would be around £1500.

The second most popular suggestion was the extension of the paving to form a path to the memorial from the entrance. At the moment access for wheelchair users is awkward.

Also popular was a proposal to crown thin the trees on the site. This would allow more sunlight into the garden and prompt more flower growth.

Both these suggestions are being followed up with the intention of the work being funded by the ward committee.

Tow other suggestions are under review.  The WW1 Centenary “Tommy” figure  (a silhouette of a soldier on perspex being promoted by the Royal British Legion) was intended only for a temporary display to mark the end of WW1.

Provision of a centenary seat attracted concerns from some residents who thought that it might become focal point for anti social behaviour.

 

Acomb War Memorial challenge

The York Civic Trust have confirmed that the restoration work that they plan to do on the Acomb War Memorial will be restricted to repairing and cleaning the stonework. Some of the lettering on the monument will also be repainted. The work is partly being sponsored by the Trust with a contribution from the City of York Council. The work is being managed by volunteers.

The scope of the refurbishment falls short of level of work which residents had hoped could be achieved before the Centenary of the end of WW1 which takes place on 11th November.

The original specification for the upgrade had included items like;

  1. Lopping some of the overhanging tree branches to allow more sunlight into the area (and thereby encourage plant growth)
  2. Extending the paving (which currently ends near the entrance) so that wheelchair users could access the memorial
  3. Provision of an interpretation board
  4. The possible provision of a commemorative public seat ( https://www.davidogilvie.com/ww1-seat )

The “Friends of Acomb Green” are hoping to have a fund-raising event shortly but, if more work is to be commissioned, in the time available, it is likely that Council and Ward committee funding will be required.

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