THE CENTENARY of Rugby’s War Memorial Gates was marked by civic leaders at a special ceremony on Saturday (March 12) – which included a tribute to the people of Ukraine.
The ceremony marked 100 years to the day since the gates were dedicated – and was attended by the granddaughter of the man who formally opened them a century ago, alongside Mayor Deepah Brojomohun-Roberts, councillors and dignitaries.
The centenary ceremony carried an extra poignance as it took place during a major European conflict. Philip Economou – the Chairman of The Orthodox Community of the Ascension and St Chad, which has parishioners from many ethnic backgrounds including Ukrainians – laid a wreath in Ukraine’s national colours to mark the conflict.
Rugby’s war memorial at the entrance to Whitehall Recreation Ground takes the form of a pair of wrought iron gates with gold decoration, supported by two Portland stone piers with ornamental mountings. The names of soldiers from Rugby who fell in the major wars of the 20th century are inscribed on the piers.
The gates were unveiled on Sunday March 12, 1922 by Field Marshal Earl French of Ypres, assisted by Mr and Mrs Hardman, who had lost three sons in the war.
The gates were then dedicated by the Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, Dr A A David, a former Headmaster of Rugby School.
Tom Reynolds, a local builder who had also lost three sons in the war, formally opened the gates with a large key presented by Foster and Dicksee, a local firm of building contractors. He was allowed to keep the key as a souvenir.
After Mr Reynolds had walked through the gates, those assembled sang the hymn O God Our Help in Ages Past, and the ceremony concluded with the laying of wreaths.
A hundred years on, Mr Reynolds’ granddaughter, Barbara Coleman, was in attendance for the re-dedication ceremony.
