September 18, 2014 3.53 pm This story is over 114 months old

Locals wanted to help protect Lincolnshire war memorials

Help memorials thrive: A Lincolnshire project wants residents to help keep war memorials in top condition for the future.

Lincolnshire residents are being invited to help protect county war memorials in order to leave a legacy for the fallen.

Anyone who joins the Lincolnshire Remembrance project will be able to become a War Memorial Guardian, and shall be taught how to care for a memorial and the history of each.

Training sessions have been organised across Lincolnshire during September and October.

War memorials officer Cath Pike said: “You’ll be given specialist training in war memorials, including how to care for them, record them, research them, and re-discover and share the story of those listed on them.

“Anything you can do will help – there’s no minimum expectation. Some will be able to offer lots of time, others will need to balance their contribution with other commitments. But this fascinating training is open to all who agree to help in some way.

“As well as playing a vital role in ensuring sacrifices are never forgotten, our volunteers learn how to uncover lost stories, protect memorials, research local and family history, understand the social and historical significance of memorials, and share their discoveries with others.”

There are an estimated 3,000 war memorials in Lincolnshire, covering conflicts from 19th century Crimea to modern-day Afghanistan.

The Lincolnshire Remembrance: Memories and Memorials project is trying to record and research them all.

Then, the findings are put into a new online database and interactive map of every war memorial in Lincolnshire.

The database lists locations, state of repair, names and stories from around the county.

To volunteer or find out more about the Lincolnshire Remembrance: Memories and Memorials project, email [email protected] or call Cath Pike on 01522 554959.