COPPLESTONE Parish Council plans to erect a War Memorial in the centre of the village are moving apace. 

Stuart Penny, Chairman, Copplestone Parish Council, told the "Courier": "Previous to 1993, the village was split between three other parishes and as a result the war dead were not recorded or their names displayed here. The parish council wants to rectify this.

"A number of ideas have been discussed, and it was decided that the War Memorial will be quite simple in design and will consist of a large piece of rugged rock from a quarry in the parish, with a granite plaque fitted into one side bearing the names of the men, not only of the Great War but also of the Second World War."

He explained that 10 names would be recorded.

He added: "It will be sited on the small grass area at the junction of Sunnymead and Bewsley Hill, a place passed by many, so that we will all know those names and the ultimate sacriface those men made."

Mr Penny said that the land will be leased from Mid Devon District Council by Copplestone Parish Council.

He said that the rock has been donated by Andy Gray of MC Kelly Ltd, Elston Farm, Copplestone, and came from a quarry in the village which was still operating at the time of the Great War.

Mr Penny said: "The men of the parish who lost their lives in the Great War, would have had a connection to the quarry that sits on the current parish boundary.

"It’s highly likely that they had worked there or had family members that had.

He added: "The plaque will be engraved by Simon Stevens of FJ Stevens and Son, Crediton."

Mr Penny said a grant has been obtained from Devon County Council, Investing in Devon, for 50 per cent of the cost of installing a flagpole behind the War Memorial.

The parish council hopes to have everything installed and ready for early November.