Clean-up for Boer War memorial

THE bronze Boer War plaque at Shaw's memorial gardens

A WAR memorial will be given a new lease of life following specialist cleaning.

The large bronze plaque, which stands in Shaw Memorial Gardens and commemorates lives lost during the Boer War, will be removed this week so it can be restored to its former glory.

Royton, Shaw and Crompton District Partnership will pay £4,875 for the work, which will involve the plaque being cleaned, primed, waxed and buffed.

The work will be carried out by Eura Conservation, a specialist company that has also carried out work on Westminster Central Hall and the gates at Buckingham Palace.

The Shaw memorial is one of only 42 across the country and was originally unveiled on June 25, 1904.

Council leader Howard Sykes said: “Although small, this plaque is no less significant than any of the other war memorials that commemorate the First and Second World Wars.

“To our knowledge, no renovation work has been carried out on it for close to 100 years.

“For this reason we felt that it was appropriate to restore the memorial so it can continue to be a constant reminder of the sacrifices made by local people during the conflict.”

Work will also be carried out on the timber and stone surround. Missing stones will be replaced, algae removed and pointing replenished.

The plaque is expected to be put back in place in mid-January before it is officially unveiled by representatives of the Royal British Legion.