Saluting base to for Armistice Day to remember fallen

PLANS are in place to help create a shrine to Bedworth’s proud Armistice legacy.

There is already the stunning wall and gates on Rye Piece Ringway but the Bedworth Armistice Day Parade group now wants to add to it.

Members want to add a permanent, ornate saluting base just yards down the road from the poignant ‘Town that never forgets’ wall.

Ken Whitehead, chairman of the group, explained: “We want to create an Armistice shrine along the road, we already have the gates and the wall. Now we want to get a permanent saluting base just down the road. We have a right job getting the temporary one in and out every year and Phil Godden, who designed the gate, said ‘why don’t we have a permanent saluting base, it could be ornate and we could have a bench put with it, with poppies on, so it can be used throughout the year’ and I think it is a cracking idea.”

Funds have already been raised towards the saluting podium, on which civic dignitaries would take the salute as the parade of veterans, soldiers and groups march past on November 11.

Following a collection at Tesco in Bedworth, Armistice group members collected an incredible £713.

“We had donations and also sold our pin badges and cufflinks, it was a tremendous day and I can’t believe how much we raised,” Mr Whitehead added.

“The people of Bedworth are always so generous and we are so grateful, we would like to wish them all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.”

As well as the saluting podium, there will be another addition to the Armistice ‘shrine’.

“We are getting some lights for the wall so that people can see it, day and night,” he said.