Where is this memorial originally from?

[johnmiles]

Well - the deposit at Park URC went well and it was great to meet you all (thats who turned up of course) - hope to post a few pictures later

regards

John

[Thudnut]

Indeeed, John.  It was a wonderful morning.  Thank you to everyone who made the arrival that little bit more special.

Scrimnet, don't worry me old chum.  We can all get together at the re-dedication service, as and when that's been arranged.  Rest assured, I won't take the micky (smiley must be like looking in the mirror, eh?).  Hope you recover soon.

What a fab day!  I'll get some pictures sorted and post soon.

Thudders

[Midnight Runner]

Hi everyone,
A good little gathering at Park this morning.
Here are a couple of pics for you delectation.

Here it is still on the back of the pick up. the fingers belong to Thudders and son, and don't worry, they still had all of them when they left.

And here is the reception committee.

[liverpool annie]

Wow .... you weren't kidding Thudders .... that's pretty big !!  ...... and looks like it was made to last !! ....

I can't get over the serendipity of it all ! ..... amazing !!  Thank you for bringing it home !! 

Now Thudders ....... I'm trying to find the Honour Roll of the Gorton Monastery ..... could you please go mooching around scrap yards in Manchester and surrounding areas for me please ??!! ..... seems to me you have a good eye !! ( oh sorry Scrimnet !! didn't mean that pun !!  )

Annie 

[Thudnut]

The Journey....

Where it all began:


Is that what I think it is?:


Time to return the boys back home:


Safely back in Reading:


Midnight Runner, I hand the baton to you, Sir, with my warmest wishes.
Thudders

[PaulaToo]

I've only just found this thread....and in a way, I'm glad.
I was born in Reading, but haven't been there for many years now.
I am so glad that this Roll of Honour has been returnd home.

It was unbelievably wrong that these men's names and sacrifice should be thrown in a scrap yard. They deserved better than that.

How many more are there out there, I wonder.

[Thudnut]

Hi Paula.
To be fair, the memorial hadn't been thrown out.  The original church was demolished by the father of the lady who owns the reclamation yard.  As a result of the demolition, the memorial went into their possession and ended up in the back of a shed somewhere, as the family did not know what to do with it, but were certain that they did not want to throw it away or sell it for scrap.

They were delighted when I made the approach to them and have been nothing but helpful throughout.

Sorry if I hadn't made that clear anywhere previously in the thread.

Thudders

[meles]

Well done all. Lovely photos.

Would have made a great story for local TV.

meles

[Midnight Runner]

To be fair PaulaToo, it wasn't in a scrap yard but a reclamation yard, and the lady who ran it had been wondering what to do with it. It took someone with a pedigree like Thudnut's to recognise its vallue to history.
I agree that it should never have been in the reclamation yard, but that is a very long story which is probably best left untold.

On a separate theme, if you want to catch up with your old home town, have a look at www.reading-forum.co.uk
While I was typing this Thudnut beat me to it, but I will post it anyway.