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Colne Engaine War Memorial Project, near Sudbury in Suffolk.

Ground Breaking

Colne Engaine War Memorial Project, near Sudbury in Suffolk.

Completion of building and dedication service

After the initial idea was postulated in 2013 and 3 after years of planning and fundraising £26,000 was raised to carry out building. A new War Memorial structure was started in 2016 and it will be completed in time for the Public Dedication Service on the 7th May 2016.

With many VIPs in attendance, including our patron Field Marshall the Lord Walker of Aldrinham and musicians from the Parachute Brigade, the service, taken by the Bishop of Colchester, will bring to life a structure designed to benefit many sections of the local community.

The idea from the outset in 2013 was that this would be a community project to build a multi-use structure that would incorporate the existing memorial to those who died in WWI. It would also have a memorial plaque naming all of those from the village who died in the two world wars. This would provide a single place for both reference and remembrance and reconciliation accessible to all members of the community.

The design allows for this structure to be used as a place of contemplation and relaxation, a shelter and seating area for parents whose children are using the play area and very importantly, an educational facility for use by the village school as well as a memorial.

Ceaseless work by the committee members and the generous support of our many sponsors and supporters has allowed the £26,000 necessary for building the project to be raised over 3 years.

Fund Raising:
Fund-raising over the years included taking part in the Essex Jailbreak with two teams, the object being to get as far as possible without using your own money and raising money for good causes in the process.

Team A travelled from Chelmsford Jail all the way back to the village stopping at various pubs and establishments along the way. In uniform and using a WWII truck they managed to collect a large sum of money for both CEWM and Essex Boys & Girls Club who organised the event.

Team B meanwhile made its way to WWI cemeteries in France and Belgium, visiting sites where men from the village were buried and laid wreaths on their graves.

The teams took part the following year, Team A following the same format as the previous year while Team B took on the challenge of reaching the Cape Helles memorial in Gallipoli, Turkey within the 15 hour timeframe. This was achieved with assistance from sponsors who paid for the flights and hire car. The following morning wreaths were laid at sites involving villagers and the Turkish War Memorial also.

The other major fund-raiser was Independence Day for Colne Engaine, where the village became the Independent State of Colne Engaine for the day. This involved a fete, road checkpoints, their own flag, currency and national anthem. Great support for the event helped tremendously towards the final target.

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