So who forgot to put the handbrake on?
OLD SOLDIERS DRIVE TANK INTO REMEMBRANCE WALL
A HIRED tank driven to a Remembrance Day service by two former soldiers smashed into a war memorial garden after ‘someone forgot to put the handbrake on.’
Local councillor Mark Fearn and exmayor Andy Langdon splashed out £950 on the Scimitar tank for the stunt in Bollington, Cheshire.
But the 7.8-tonne machine rolled into the memorial gates, smashing them to pieces.
Mr Fearn admitted he caused the accident – and that the debacle left him feeling a ‘bit embarrassed to say the least.’
The Royal British Legion has launched an investigation into the stunt, which it deemed ‘entirely inappropriate.’
A villager said: “You couldn’t have written it – it was like something out of Dad’s Army! Residents had been told there was a surprise and we had been guessing all week what it would be. Suddenly I was told it had demolished the gates to the memorial garden.”
Mr Fearn and Mr Langdon hired the tank – which costs from £950 per day – and appeared out of the turret to drive to the minute’s silence.
According to a villager, the vehicle was parked close to the entrance to the memorial gardens before it rolled into the stone and metal gates.
One villager said: “They were waving and laughing as they drove through the village.
“When they parked, I think they left the handbrake off and it went crashing into the gatepost of the memorial garden.
“Or they could have put it in reverse, I’m not sure what happened.”
On a post made in the community Facebook group, Mr Fearn confessed ‘it was me’ when someone asked if Mr Langdon had caused the disaster.
He later added: ‘Oops. A bit embarrassed to say the least’ and ‘I will be making a personal donation to RBL.’
The gate was dragged from its frame and it is thought several concrete blocks were knocked from the stone gatepost. Kind locals stepped in the same day to repair the damages.
A Facebook comment from Mr Fearn told how he had also worked alongside the team ‘to make good the damage I have caused.’
A spokesperson for the RBL said: “We were not aware beforehand that this vehicle would be used on Thursday, and it is entirely inappropriate.”
Mr Langdon declined to comment. Mr Fearn could not be reached for comment.