A CHARITY group is hoping to raise thousands of pounds to replace a wooden war memorial in Gosfield with a more lasting tribute.

The Gosfield War Memorial Group was founded last November during the 100th anniversary of the First World War armistice, after discussions about the constant repair work needed to maintain the current memorial.

The team now hopes to raise more than £12,000 for a brand new memorial to those who lost their lives in the first and second world wars, in time for this year’s Remembrance Sunday.

The old memorial will be moved inside Maurice Rowson Hall where it will be preserved.

Kate Sale, of the war memorial committee, said: “There is currently a wooden memorial at that location but due to the condition of it, it is now in need of better preservation.

“Stonemasons living in Gosfield have offered to design and erect the new memorial at cost price and so now we need to raise the £12,000 required to have it in place by Remembrance Sunday this year.”

The new monument, which will be funded by a series of charity events, including the creation of a special Gosfield poppy, will take its inspiration from the wooden one.

It will be carved out of granite and topped with a narrow stone coping.

Two side wings will feature the names of those from the village who died in the world wars.

A special code on the back of the memorial can be scanned with a smartphone to link to online information about the history of the wars.

Isla Gill, one of the founding members of the group, said: “For me personally, I am a firm believer that the heritage of the village should be celebrated and that 100 years after the end of the First World War was the appropriate time to for the memorial to be constructed.

“This is a unique and wonderful opportunity for Gosfield to preserve village heritage for the future and demonstrate a fresh recognition and honouring of the sacrifice made in two world wars.”

n To donate to the Gosfield War Memorial Project visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/gosfieldwarmemorial or you can make a cheque payable to Gosfield War Memorial.