Veterans at re-dedication of restored war memorial

The ceremony took place at Ripon Spa Gardens yesterday following the £11,000 restoration of the Grade II listed statue of the 1st Marquess of Ripon that stands at the entrance to the park and the First and Second World War Memorial.

The memorial, which is in the shape of a column with a First World War soldier’s head at the tip, was re-dedicated by the Dean of Ripon Keith Jukes in front of members of the Royal British Legion and Ripon branches of the Royal Engineers’ Association and the Royal Air Force Association.

As part of the restoration, the names of the men who gave their lives were re-lettered on the war memorial.

The Marquess of Ripon statue, which honours the famed 19th century Liberal politician who was made Viceroy of India by Gladstone in 1880, has also been fully cleaned with its patina restored under the project.

The restoration work has been spearheaded by Friends of the Spa Gardens, after the group and Harrogate Borough Council secured a £9,200 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The Friends secured the rest of the funding from organisations including the War Memorials’ Trust and Ripon City Council.