The National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, near our Club Sites at Drayton Manor, Cannock Chase and Conkers, National Forest is set for restoration during a programme of work beginning 12 November 2015.

The welcome improvements and repairs are the result of a £3 million grant (amassed from London Inter-bank Offered Rate (LIBOR) fines), which will cover building costs for a new stone-paved surface, along with drainage improvements, pathway upgrades and better lighting.

Containing the names of over 16,000 Service personnel who have been killed on duty or as a result of terrorism, and added to each year, the monument has attracted over two million visitors since it was dedicated in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen in October 2007.

Sarah Montgomery, Managing Director of the National Memorial Arboretum, which is part of The Royal British Legion, said: “The LIBOR fines grant and support from The Royal British Legion will enable us to improve the monument and address issues with drainage and damp, ensuring it continues to provide appropriate recognition and thanks for those who have given their lives in the service of the country.”

She added: “We recognise the disruption these works will cause and having to close the monument for any period of time is not a decision we wanted to take. There are, however, over 300 other memorials within the 150 acres of wooded parkland, with the majority of recent conflicts represented in some way. We hope that our visitors will take the opportunity to explore other parts of the Arboretum.
“We are also creating an area with panels featuring images of the names on the monument, and a focal point for the laying of tributes, in order that families can continue to pay their respects.”

All works will be completed by Armistice Day 2016. During this time, the Arboretum has created a new area featuring information about the Armed Forces Memorial and photography of every name on its walls. It has also created a new focal point for the laying of wreaths and other tributes.

Please note that this year’s Armistice Day service will take place as usual at the Armed Forces Memorial. The dedication of new names on the memorial, of those killed in 2015, and a rededication of the upgraded memorial, will take place in early November 2016, once the works are fully complete.

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