A FIRST World War memorial honouring the service of 400 former pupils from York is set to be restored.
The Bedern Roll of Honour, which holds the names of nearly 400 former pupils from the Bedern National School who served in the First World War, will be restored thanks to public donations and a theatre performance.
The Roll of Honour, now housed at Holy Trinity Church in Goodramgate, York, includes "Old Boys" from one of York's poorest areas.
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The red lines initially drawn under each name to mark whether a soldier was injured, captured, or killed have faded over time and urgently need restoration.
A total of £2,216.98 was raised from the proceeds of The Raree Show, held at Merchant Taylors’ Hall during the city’s Georgian Festival, and other donations from supporters and sponsors.
York Civic Trust, which found the experts to carry out the work and met the initial estimate cost, also played a role in the restoration process.
On November 11, the Bedern Memorial Board will leave Holy Trinity to start its restoration.
Before its departure, the church is offering a final opportunity to view the board on November 9 between 11am and 3pm.
The restoration is designed to ensure the Roll of Honour continues to narrate the stories of York families impacted by the war.
The team at Holy Trinity Church, Goodramgate, is also interested in hearing from descendants of those listed on the memorial to share their stories.
Anyone who believes they may be related to either Arthur Aspinall (born around 1873), Bernard/Barnet Annenberg (born around 1837), Arthur Helps (born around 1868), James Lane (born around 1847), William Foster (born around 1860), or Annie Potter (born around 1873), is encouraged to contact york@thecct.org.uk.
The Roll of Honour also lists three individuals with the initials "M.M." indicating they were awarded a Military Medal; these are Sidney Ellis (born in 1886), James Lofthouse (born in 1882), and John Hodgson Griffiths (born in 1896).
There may also be another Military Medal awardee on the list, Charles Higgins (born in 1887), whose "M.M" was not transcribed.
Holy Trinity Church, Goodramgate is one of many churches cared for by the Churches Conservation Trust and has a history spanning over 800 years.
It has box pews, a medieval stained glass window, and a rainbow plaque commemorating the visit of Anne Lister and Ann Walker in 1834.
The Churches Conservation Trust is a national charity safeguarding historic churches at risk, protecting more than 350 church buildings.
All churches under its care remain consecrated and are used for occasional worship; the volunteer team keeps the church open, and new volunteers are always welcome.
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