CASTLE SOLDIER MOVED OVER ‘SUICIDE’ FEARS
ACOMMEMORATIVE statue of a soldier has been removed from the top of a North Wales castle over fears it looked like someone was attempting to take their own life.
A number of Silent Soldier silhouettes have been placed around the region to commemorate 100 years since the end of World War I.
But one of the statues placed at the top of Flint Castle earlier this week has now been relocated after a “number of objections” from the community.
It comes as the silhouette was mistaken by a number of people for someone suicidal.
It was taken down by Cadw on Thursday and relocated to a different part of the castle’s ground.
Vicky Perfect, Keeper of Keys at Flint Castle, said she can see why complaints were made and admitted the statue did look “inappropriate”.
“It shouldn’t have been put there really,” she said.
“It did look a bit inappropriate.
“It’s been moved to somewhere more appropriately placed in the castle’s grounds now.
“It must have been very difficult to get up to the top, but I don’t think it was done maliciously, I think it was just a mistake.
“I can see why it gave some the impression that someone was about to jump.”
Cadw, which owns the castle, says that while it fully supports the British Legion’s Silent Soldier campaign, the initial location was “deemed unsuitable following a number of objections”.
The Legion’s “There But Not There” campaign commemorates the centenary of the end of World War I through a nationwide installation of life-size silhouettes of soldiers.
They represent the 888,246 British and Commonwealth soldiers who died in the conflict and will be part of a national celebration in November.
Money raised from sales of the Tommy figures will go to various charities including Combat Stress and Help for Heroes.
A Welsh Government spokesman said: “Cadw fully supports the Royal British Legion’s Silent Soldier campaign that marks the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War.
“The initial location of the silhouette was deemed unsuitable following a number of objections and it has now been relocated.”