Work progressing on Lochaber war memorials

The leader of The Highland Council has highlighted the excellent restoration work being done on war memorials across the Highlands, including Lochaber, using funding from the local authority and the Scottish Government's Centenary War Memorial Restoration Fund.

Leading up to the centenary of the cessation of hostilities in the First World War, The Highland Council’s allocation from the fund, which the council manages, has been £50,000 a year. Since the fund became available in 2014, the council has been consulting with local communities on upgrades ranging from landscape works, masonry work, clock repairs, inscriptions and repainting. Work by The Highland Council is currently under way at memorials in Glengarry, Lochaline, Laggan, Acharacle, Glenfinnan, Ballachulish and Glencoe, Kilchoan and Ferenish. Work on memorials in Portree and Fort William was completed earlier this year.

Council leader Margaret Davidson commented: ‘War memorials stand at the heart of almost every community throughout the Highlands.

‘Large numbers of Highland and island communities were devastated as a result of war, as the strong tradition of military service among Scots left many towns and villages with few adult males. I therefore feel it fitting, as we prepare to mark the centenary of World War I, that work to bring these memorials back to their former glory is taking place.’

She added: ‘Much of this work is being done in-house with the council so I would like to pay tribute to the staff involved, especially Alf Leslie, for their commitment and outstanding work.’