Herald - Issue 396

Page 52 • The HERALD • 8th October 2020 v SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SPECIALISTS v v ON THE HOME FRONT v Call For Designs For Westerleigh Group’s COVID-19 Memorials Aspiring artists, school children, retired people and creative folk of all ages in the south of England are being given a chance to have their names etched in history. Design ideas are being invited to appear on the stone centre-piece obelisks of new COVID-19 memorial gardens which are being created at North Wiltshire, West Wiltshire, Test Valley, Wessex Vale, Aylesbury, West Berkshire and e Vale crematoria. e crematoria are run by Westerleigh Group, the UK’s largest independent owner of crematoria and cemeteries, who are building memorials in tranquil gardens at over 30 sites across the UK with members of the public invited to contribute to their design. The memorial gardens will be a permanent tranquil place for people to visit and remember loved ones who died during the pandemic and pay tribute to those who sacri ced so much to help others who were sick, isolated or vulnerable. A competition has been launched with people of all ages invited to create a suitable design which can be etched onto the stone obelisk, which will be the focal point of each memorial garden. Each polished black granite monument will be set in a rainbow-coloured oral bed. e winning designs will be individually carved by Westerleigh’s highly-skilled stonemasons. Each obelisk will include an inscription which reads: “This memorial has been placed to remember and recognise the lives and efforts of all affected by the COVID- 19 pandemic of 2020.” Westerleigh is hoping to nd seven designs to be etched onto the stone alongside the inscription, for use in di erent regions of the country. e creator of the winning design for each region will have a plaque with their name on attached to the memorial. Regional Manager Kevin Davies said: “Our sites have close links to their local communities and are places where people go to say goodbye to their loved ones and reflect on life. Everyone has been affected by the pandemic this year and we wanted to create permanent and lasting memorials in each of those communities. We wanted to enable people to get involved and help us with the design. “The design itself can be full-colour but needs to be simple enough so that it can be carved onto stone, so some creative thinking is required. “We expect rainbows to feature in some of the designs, but it really is a blank canvas. People can be as creative as they wish, just bearing in mind that the image will need to be recreated in stone. “It might be that people choose to incorporate local landmarks into the design, to reflect their own region. It really is entirely up to them. “The competition is open to anyone and everyone, whether you’re an artist or not, and no matter how old you are.” Designs should be no bigger than A4 in size and must be submitted by Saturday 31st October . A er the closing date, a shortlist of nal entries for each region will be drawn up and winners will be chosen. Work is expected to start on the stone memorials later this year, with garden landscaping taking place in early Spring 2021, before opening shortly a erwards. Entries can be emailed to: designcomp@ westerleighgroup.co.uk or posted to: Design Competition, Westerleigh Group, Chapel View, Westerleigh Road, Westerleigh, Bristol BS37 8QP. Entrants should include their name, address and a telephone number so that they can easily be contacted if their design is chosen. Westerleigh Memorial artists’ impression Sales & Lettings 023 8084 4131 • 7 & 9The Marsh, Hythe Contemporary Water Front Apartment is modern 1 bedroom rst oor apartment is situated on a water front development on the edge of Hythe village. Harbour View is positioned a short at walk from all the amenities and shops that the village centre has to o er. e property is also within easy reach of bus services, schools, activity centres and beaches. Southampton City Centre is easily accessible by road and alternatively via the frequent passenger ferry service from Hythe Pier. e property bene ts from an open plan kitchen/living room with integrated appliances, balcony, PVCu double glazing, under oor heating and allocated parking. Priced at £234,950 an internal viewing is highly recommended to appreciate this home. Call Pearsons on 023 8084 4131 or visit www.pearsons.com Have you... • Con rmed details of your move with the removals company? • Checked for anything le in the lo ? • Arranged for meters to be read? • Advised services, insurers, etc of your new address? • Cancelled newspaper/ milk deliveries etc? • Organised redirection of your mail? • Emptied and defrosted the freezer? • Before you close the door for the last time on your old home, take a good look around every room, shed, garage etc to double check that your haven’t le anything (or anyone!) behind. BEFORE YOU MOVE... Dear Editor, Gifts in Wills have always been important to charities but never more so than this year. During Covid-19, blind and partially sighted people have struggled to access essentials like food and medicine. Social distancing has made it hard for some people to get out at all. Over the last six months, the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has supported people with sight loss in numerous ways, including extending our Helpline opening hours, offering new telephone services, such as Talk and Support, and securing priority supermarket delivery slots. Gifts in Wills have been hugely important in funding this work, accounting for half of our voluntary income. An increase in public awareness and more gifts left in Wills helps RNIB remove more barriers for blind and partially sighted people. That’s why they supported Remember a Charity Week in September, to celebrate all the amazing people who support blind and partially sighted people across the UK by leaving a gift to RNIB in their Will. No matter how big or small, every gift counts and has a valuable impact. You can pass on something amazing to people in years to come by leaving a gift in your Will. Thank you, Eleanor Southwood, Chair, RNIB Remember a Charity in Your Will