Boost for funds to add names to war memorial

Last month, the people of Camelon gathered to dedicate the new cenotaph on the banks of the Forth & Clyde canal at Lock 16.

The project had been almost ten years in the planning and lists the names of 262 men from the area who died during the First World War.

However, the organising committee is keen to erect further giant steel memorial plates to record those who died during the Second World War and the Korean conflict.

This week, those behind Camelon Community Charity Shop responded to the call for support from the group donating £1000 to help reduce the shortfall in funding for the new memorial.

At the same time a donation of £500 was made to 
the upcoming Mariner’s Day celebration hoping the success of last year’s events 
can be repeated this year. A further £100 was donated from shop funds to Camelon Community Centre Playgroup and FUNPLUS a youth club for young people with physical and educational needs.

A spokesperson from the shop which is in Main Street said: “It was set up by the Church to help support local events and groups, as 
well as providing quality clothing and household items to people in our 
area, helping to make tight budgets go a little further. We hope our contributions, though small, will make a big difference to those who receive them.”

The steel used for the memorial will change in colour over the next 15 months 
and will take on copper 
hues.

Councillor Gerry Goldie, who first put forward the idea for the memorial, said: “The steel used was the choice of designer Shirley Ann McMillan and is the same used in the Angel of the North.

“Local authorities have an obligation to adopt war memorials and look after them. This type of steel will hopefully not prove expensive for upkeep in the years to come.

“It’s fantastic to see how many people are stopping to look and admire the memorial.”