Re-dedication ceremony marks village war memorial centenary
A magnificent war memorial is to be re-dedicated to mark its centenary.
The Easington Lane clock tower was unveiled to the public on Tuesday, August 27, 1921. The foundation stone was laid a year earlier, in August 1920.
The re-dedication of the Grade II listed building will be performed during another ceremony at the High Street site on Saturday, August 28, at 11am.
The 17 metre (55 feet) sandstone tower was erected to honour the 158 men of Easington Lane whose lives were claimed by World War One. The names of 29 locals who fell during World War Two were added later, making a total of 187.
The memorial was originally unveiled by the coal magnate Lord Joicey, chairman of LambtonandHettonCollieries Ltd, who provided the labour forthebuilding.The2021event will be attended by his greatgrandson, James Michael Joicey, the fifth Baron Joicey.
Also present will be the Mayor of Sunderland Henry Trueman, representatives of Hetton Town Council, representatives of Easington Lane Primary School, members of theRoyalBritishLegionand,of course,thepeopleofEasington Lane themselves.
Theaimistomaketheevent asalikeaspossibletotheoriginal.
The dedication on 1921 was carried out by the Dean of Durham, James Welldon. A
centuryonitwillbeperformed again by the Reverend Canon Michael Everitt, Canon Pastor
at Durham Cathedral, who is very much looking forward to the event.
He told the Echo: “It is a privilege to be part of the rededication of the Easington
Lane War Memorial, 100 years on from when it was first unveiled and dedicated.
“It is good that Easington Lane continues to honour those who gave their service and their lives in both world wars,becauseinremembering themwealsocommitourselves to strive for peace today.
“The re-dedication of the memorial is an opportunity for this generation to do both of these things afresh.”
The original work to build the memorial tower, complete with the clock and bells, was £2,000 which is the equivalent toabout£85,000in2021.Itwas paid for by a public collection.
The land on which the memorial stands was donated by a great-uncle of the present Queen, Francis Bowes-Lyon, who also gave £25 towards the cost of construction.