The Reminiscence and Resource Centre have recently been awarded a Grant of £10,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund in order to refurbish the War Memorial.
Sometime ago the War Memorial was vandalised and the Eternal Flame was stolen, presumably by metal thieves. This was replaced with one which is made from one of the new plastic materials which look like bronze. In order to ensure that the name plaques on the memorial did not meet a similar fate they have been stored in the Reminiscence and Resource Centre, only being put back on the Memorial for the Remembrance Day Services each November.
We have now been awarded this Grant, along with one of £3,000 from the Welcome Forum and £1,000 from Thurrock Council to allow us to have new name plaques made, in stone, have the Memorial and surrounding area refurbished and cleaned. At the same time we are having the names of those we have traced, but who were not on the original list, added. The original plaques will then be sited in East Tilbury Village Church.
If you are related to any of the Bata Employees who died during World War II please contact us and we will then keep you informed as the project progresses.
It is hoped to have some of the work done, if not completed, by this Remembrance Day.
