War memorial restored to its former glory
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A LASTING memorial to the war dead in a Ross-shire community has been restored to its former glory to mark the centenary of WWI.
The memorial gate at Fodderty Cemetery was refurbished at part of a Highland Council project to restore war memorials across the region.
An inscription on the ornate memorial reads that it was erected in memory of "the men of Strathpeffer and District" and dedicated on Armistice Day in 1933.
The memorial was designed and made by A. Marshall Mackenzie & Son and by Donald Matheson – a Scottish architect responsible for various prestigious projects through the UK including Australia House in London.
Over the years the metal gates had deteriorated and were in a poor condition. But the in-house council project – using funding from the Scottish Government and the skills of local craftsmen from Black Isle Bronze in Nairn, James Evans & Sons in Dingwall and Hoods of Dingwall – has now resulted in the complete restoration of the eye-catching memorial.
Councillors Margaret Paterson and Angela MacLean met up with the council’s War Memorial Project co-ordinator, Alf Leslie, at Fodderty Cemetery to admire the work which included restoration of the lettering, scroll work and the stones surrounding the gates, as well as a new paint job.
Cllr Paterson said: "Angela and I went to see the gates when they were taken to Black Isle Bronze to be cleaned and restored so seeing them now proudly back where they belong is wonderful.
"I very much feel that we are the custodians for future generations and have a responsibility to keep the memorial in a good order in tribute to the many men lost and their families."
Cllr MacLean added: "The transformation has been stunning and to have been involved in this project from start to finish has been very rewarding.
"When we saw the gates in the Black Isle Bronze foundry getting cleaned and repaired we had the opportunity to see close up the very intricate original design. It was clear that the design and craftsmanship was of the highest quality."
Both Cllr Paterson and MacLean thanked everyone involved in the project, particularly Alf Leslie for his care and commitment to the Fodderty memorial and all the other memorials across the Highlands.
Restoration works on WWI memorials across Ross and Cromarty this year included those in Ullapool, Dundonnell, Gairloch, Invergordon, Conon Bridge, Muir of Ord, Cromarty, Strathconnon, Evanton, Contin, Garve, Maryburgh, Fettes and Kinlochewe.
On the Black Isle, The Avoch Gentlemen’s Golf Society teamed up with the council to fund restoration of the Avoch memorial. And the council recently arranged for a contractor to carry out the restoration of the Munlochy memorial.
