Benches honouring First and Second World War soldiers unveiled for memorial park centenary
Centenary celebrations for a memorial park in Brierley Hill are set to take place in September and as a tribute to the men who died in the First and Second World Wars three new benches have been installed.
The benches bear laser-cut images in memory of those who died during the First and Second World Wars and have been placed in Marsh Park along with six new litter bins.
Appropriately one of the benches, which bears images of the Battle of Britain and Normandy Landings, has been placed close to where there was once a look-out post for fire watching and Home Guard activities during the Second World War.
Marsh Park covers about four acres and was donated to the town by Marsh & Baxter, the famous bacon and sausage company.
It was officially opened on September 17, 1921 and some of the work was actually done by soldiers returning home.
Centenary celebrations are now planned which will see a Picnic in the Park on September 18 but meanwhile the new benches are already in use by visitors.
Frank Chamberlain, chairman of the Friends of Marsh Park, said: "The benches are a suitable tribute to those lost during the wars as this is a memorial park and some of the work done to create it actually involved returning soldiers.
"We have been working with Dudley Council and a nearby war memorial is being restored and this work is due for completion in November.
"I would like to thank Julia Morris, a Green Care worker with Dudley Council for her help in raising about £7,000 in community funds and for over-seeing the project.
"I would also like to thank Steve Blewitt, a council maintenance worker, who made the foundations.
"People have been using the park far more during the past month and they will be able to sit and reflect on the scenes on the benches.
"They will allow people to enjoy the park and the old benches have been moved elsewhere.
"It will be the park's centenary later this year and a picnic in the park is being planned for September 18 to mark the event."
The Friends of Marsh Park group, was set up around the end of 2007, and has played a vital role in the park's improvement for decades.
It has worked closely alongside local residents asking them what improvements they would like to see made to Marsh Park.
Described by locals as a 'green oasis' in the centre of Brierley Hill, volunteers have received a variety of grants over the years to make it an even better place for residents.
In 2008, the group was awarded £128,000 - as a share of the Government's Liveability Fund and also the local authority - to give the park a facelift to make it more welcoming to visitors.
The cash was used to improve the park, planting new shrubs and trees, as well as improving playground equipment for families.
In 2011, the park was featured in a guidebook giving an insight into the area as part of a National Lottery funded initiative by the University of Birmingham's school of geography, earth and environmental services.
