War memorial campaign is marching on
Published 2 Nov 2012 09:30
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A CAMPAIGN for a permanent memorial in Neilston to honour 200 lives lost in both world wars is gathering pace as Armistice Day approaches.
A dedicated group of volunteers has been working for more than a year to pull together the £20,000 needed in time for the 2014, the 100-year anniversary of World War One.
Councillor Paul O'Kane, a volunteer on the War Memorial Association\\u2019s project, said this week: \"I feel it is very important we hit this deadline that we have set ourselves.
\"It is a milestone anniversary, not just for Neilston but for the entire country, and while remembrance events are taking place in front of memorials and cenotaphs across the country, we don't want to be the only village without one.
\"It has been made easier with the Government announcing there will be funding to aid remembrance ceremonies.\"
Last year Neilston held its first-ever remembrance event in front of the village primary school, where a temporary wooden cross surrounded by poppies was installed, and the names of every local serviceman to have died in the line of duty was read out.
Councillor O'Kane said the same tribute is to take place this year.
He said: \"On November 11 we will hold another ceremony, hopefully attended by local dignitaries and as many residents as possible, after the church services end from 12.15pm.
\"So far the association has managed to raise around £3,000 and we hope to boost that to £10,000 in time for our 2014 deadline.
\"The rest of the funding we are hoping to make up from the Big Lottery Fund or something similar.\"
The campaign is a realisation of a dream envisaged by late Neilston Reverend Nan Low, who collated the names and details of every serviceman to die from the village.
Now the group is looking to expand and hopes to attract potential members to its AGM in December.
Councillor O'Kane said: \"To step up the fundraising efforts and raise the profile of the campaign, we would like new members from the community and people that represent the different community groups out there so that we can really get the ball rolling on this.\"
A date has not been set for the AGM yet.
Barrhead's annual remembrance parade and ceremony at the Cowan Park cenotaph will take place on the same day at a later time, believed to be closer to 2pm.
This article appeared in Barrhead News 02 Nov 12
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