Cliffsend resident creates ‘golden’ mural display to mark Remembrance Sunday

Beryl hopes people will come and see the display Photos Michael Grantham

Mural creations marking Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day in the 75th year since the end of the Second World War had been installed by Cliffsend resident Beryl Harrison.

The 81-year-old has created the display outside her home in Beech Grove which includes a golden soldier mural, 45 gold crosses, a horse and poppies.

Photo Michael Grantham

Each cross bears names of people who were killed in action or later died from their injuries during the conflict. Some were survivors who have now passed, others were Prisoners of War POW. Hiroshima and Russia, Dame Vera Lynn, the Burma Star Association and General Slim are also featured.

Photo Michael Grantham

The gold crosses symbolise the end of the Second World War, the horse is to remember the animals lost in the conflict and the poppies represent the bloodshed.

Beryl, who has been a fundraiser for disability causes for some 40 years and a co-founder fundraiser for a disability assessment centre in Canterbury, says the gold is: “For all those that were lost, these should have been their golden years.”

Photo Michael Grantham

The parish councillor, who also installed displays to mark VE and VJ Days this year, said: “It is the 75th anniversary of the end of the war and there would have been celebrations but that can’t happen because of the virus and the lockdown.

 

“I’m not an artist but I like to create things. I hope people will come up close and look at the crosses so they can read the names and stories, they don’t need to worry about walking in the garden.”

Photo Michael Grantham

Government has said Remembrance events can take place despite the lockdown and guidance is due to be issued to councils about how to safely mark Remembrance Sunday on November 8 and Armistice Day on November 11.

Currently many Thanet parades and services have been cancelled but we will update with any changes.

9 Comments

  1. A lovely thing to do in recognition of all those who fought in the war to save this country from surrender to the then enemy, including all the animals.

    Well done and thank you. It is so important we all continue to pay tribute to the fallen, many of us would not be here today without their dedication and bravery, and also their ultimate sacrifice. God bless them all.

  2. Well done Beryl! I know how much hard work and how much time you sacrificed to create this beautiful memorial. It does look amazing! We are doing our 2 minutes silence at work today.

  3. beautiful work Beryl, thank you for your time and effort making these beautiful banners. We need to remember them all every year. It is so important to revisit our history, and these banners with their information should be visited by all local Thanet people to see what a wonderful memorial you have created.
    thank you x

  4. I thank you all for your comments as you can see by my age I was born in October just a few weeks after the war started, I do remember the search lights and the droning sound of the planes leaving the Bawtry Air Base in South Yorkshire where we lived. the other thing I remember was being taken out by my parents into the road with all the neighbours dancing and singing when the war was finished. we then moved to Canterbury. From a young age My dad used to take me to the Remembrance services at Canterbury Cathedral so I have always been very grateful for the sacrifices made for our Country. It is a Great Honour to remember all those that were lost. Beryl Harrison

Comments are closed.