Wivenhoe resident unveils memorial for fallen soliders

Phil Long, of Mede Way, Wivenhoe, has designed and led a project which will see two screens display the names of the town's brave soldiers who didn’t return home

The screens also each boast poppy shaped holes which represent the heroic soldiers of Wivenhoe who sadly died in battle.

There are also 48 bright red poppies attached to the screens, which were kindly designed by the pupils of Millfields Primary School, in Bowes Road.

Local businesses and organisations have also supported the project, such as Babcock, Timpson, the engineering department at the Colchester Institute, Paintology Vehicle Body Repairs, Taylor Wimpey.

We will remember - The project remembers the Wivenhoe soldiers that didn't return from World War One, World War Two, and a soldier from the conflict in northern Ireland (Image: Phil Long)

Passionate - Wivenhoe resident Phil is a fan of history and first had the idea to do this project back in 2020 (Image: Phil Long)

Phil said: “The poppies from the school represent the connection between the past generations and the current generation in remembrance and gratitude.

“The two screens represent the completion of a project which began last year when students from Broomgrove School in Wivenhoe planted 55 trees representing the names of those who died in the wars and whose names appear on the Wivenhoe war memorial. 

Map - This shows exactly where the two screens are located (Image: Phil Long)

“Not all the names of Wivenhoe's fallen were included in the war memorial, so the screens are there to represent them all.

"It recognises that not everyone gets their name recorded in history or on a war memorial, I think it is important we commemorate the sacrifices they made."

Natasha Bennett, the headteacher of Millfields Primary School, says she is extremely proud of the pupils’ contribution to the project.

She said: "We were thrilled to be part of this fantastic project, which involved children from Year 2 to Year 6.

"The children thoroughly enjoyed creating the designs for their poppies, working very carefully to produce some detailed patterns and showing wonderful creativity.

In memory - The left screen (Image: Phil Long)

Important - The right screen (Image: Phil Long)

"The children couldn't wait to hear which designs had been chosen to be made for the screens.

"We are incredibly proud of all of our winners, as well as all of our children who worked hard to create their own unique designs.

"We can't wait to see the finished poppies in place."

Starting at 11am, the big unveiling of the screens will take place on Friday in Elmstead Road, Wivenhoe, and will be led by Lieutenant Colonel E Rankin, the commanding officer of the Colchester Garrison.