Tuesday 15th July 2014
Warminster Town Council have acknowledged that the recent sorry state of the Lych Gate at Copheap, Warminster, was due to decay and not vandalism, [as reported on Danny Howell’s website in November 2013 and January 2014].
The memorial has now been fully repaired to a high standard by volunteers from Aspire. At last night’s meeting of the Town Council the repair of the Lych Gate and a suggestion for an annual service at the Lych Gate or a dedication service for it were discussed.
Councillor Paul Batchelor told his fellow councillors that the maintenance had received good publicity. He confirmed that there had been no vandalism over the Christmas 2013 holiday period (as had been reported in the Warminster Journal) and that the missing pillars and fallen roof tiles of the Lych Gate had been caused by rotting wood and general neglect. He said the carpenters from Aspire had now restored the memorial to a high standard.
Councillor Batchelor suggested that rather than hold an annual service at Copheap as some people had expressed a wish for, it might be more appropriate to hold a dedication for the Lych Gate on 11th November. It was noted that the Warminster Branch of the Royal British Legion holds a remembrance ceremony at St. Lawrence’s Chapel in the High Street, Warminster, on the morning of the 11th day of the 11th month, and maybe this could be followed in the afternoon with a dedication service at the Copheap Lych Gate. Councillor Batchelor proposed this and Councillor Paul Macdonald seconded. Voting was unanimously in favour. The Town Clerk, Heather Abernethie, will liaise with the Warminster Branch of the Royal British Legion.