The winning design has been announced for a new public memorial to local soldiers who have died for their country since World War II. The entry has been chosen from literally hundreds of responses to the public competition.

Funding for the new memorial was raised through an appeal launched last year jointly by Mike Penning MP, the Mayor of Dacorum, the Royal British Legion and the Hemel Hempstead Gazette. It is intended that the new memorial will be erected near the ‘rainbow’ memorial garden in Marlowes.

Local MP, Mike Penning, and officers of the Hemel Hempstead Branch of the Royal British Legion have selected a design consisting of a brightly coloured mosaic poppy symbol.

Mike Penning said:
“The competition had a terrific response and we were inundated with entries and so many were of an incredibly high standard. I thank everyone who took the time to take part and I hope everyone will be happy with the result.”

Chairman of the Hemel Hempstead Branch, Peter Gibbons, said:
“It is a very striking design and immediately caught the attention of everyone who saw it.”

The winning entry was designed by Mrs Maura Gillespie and her children Zak and Zara of Potten End. It will now be sent to an architectural mason to design the structural specification of the memorial.

Submitting her entry, Mrs Gillespie commented:
“A ceramic poppy would look bright on a grey November remembrance day and it would be a shining reminder all year. I made this with my two children Zak and Zara – it provoked conversation.”

Photos: Mike Penning MP with Chairman of the Royal British Legion (Hemel Hempstead Branch) Peter Gibbons and Sue Rose (Coordinator of the Poppy Appeal for Hemel Hempstead)

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