Page 11 - BNVTA News November 2020

BNTVA Memorials
1. National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire
Memorial is no. 411. /// tiny.disbanded.urge
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In 1988 Commander David Childs CBE wished to establish a national focus or a “centre” for Remembrance forming a living tribute to service men and women for future generations to reflect upon and enjoy. In 1994 an appeal was launched by the Prime Minister, John Major, and the agreement of three key proposals assured its future.
The project began with no money, no land, no staff and no trees. National Lottery funding provided a grant of some forty per cent of the cost and
this was matched by thousands of donations, both large and small, from a wide variety of organisations, both military and civilian, men and women, corporate and voluntary.
The site would be the location of the Armed Forces Memorial. The Ministry of Defence would pay a significant grant-in-aid allowing free entry and The Royal British Legion would accept the gift of the site as the focus for the Nations’ year-round Remembrance.
The former gravel abstraction workings at Alrewas became the site of the NMA following its gifting by Lafarge in 1997, and the initial planting took place thanks to grants from the Forestry Commission and the National Forest.
The Arboretum was officially opened on 16 May 2001. It is now part of The Royal British Legion family of charities.
Following the passing of his great friend Peter Williams, BNTVA
A brief history of the National Memorial Arboretum (abridged wikipedia).
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