War memorial restored

TRIBUTE TO THE DEAD REVAMPED 100 YEARS ON

A WAR memorial has been renovated and relocated after luxury home developers found it neglected and covered in weeds.

The monument was discovered at a new estate near Market Bosworth and revamped exactly 100 years after it was first unveiled.

It was found at the former Hornsey Rise care home site in Wellsborough by developer Springbourne Homes after they acquired the estate to build 19 homes.

It was covered in brambles and the plaque had been removed.

An appeal was launched for information and archives in London revealed it had been erected in 1921 in memory of 380 members of the National Society of Operative Printers and Assistants, who died in the First World War.

Old photographs showed it had been the centrepiece of a remembrance garden.

The developer has relocated the granite monument into a new peace garden at the Hornsey Rise housing development. A rededication ceremony was held on March 29, on the centenary of the opening of the care home.

Adrian Burr, chairman of Springbourne Homes, said: “We desperately wanted to celebrate the memorial’s restoration and relocation on its centenary but the Covid restrictions had us really sweating.

“It turned out to be perfect and

I’m so happy and relieved we managed to make it happen exactly 100 years after it was first unveiled.”

Among guests at the rededication was Tony Burke, assistant general secretary of the Unite union.

He said: “It is wonderful to see this memorial restored and resplendent again so we can once again commemorate the sacrifice of the NATSOPA print workers who sadly lost their lives in the First World War.”

The memorial is not the only notable piece of history connected with the site.

A historian asked to research the heritage of the area found the land was once owned by James II and has direct links to Charles I and George VI, father of Queen Elizabeth II.