A PLEA has been sent out by Haslemere's town mayor, Brian Howard, for residents and local businesses to help find £2,000 still needed to help pay for the restoration of the town's war memorial. Haslemere's memorial is a listed historic monument and repairs are needed to help maintain the crumbling stone, which needs to be carefully cut away and replaced with similar material. Mr Howard told The Herald: "Our war memorials are falling into disrepair. We are instigating urgent works to bring them up to a standard that the public would expect. "A grant has been received from English Heritage of £5,900 and £770 for Beacon Hill, which represents some 50 per cent of the cost. We now wish to invite the public to help with the rest." On finding out about the proposed works and the plea for funding, Haslemere Herald proprietor, Sir Ray Tindle, readily pledged a donation of £2,000 to help kick-start the works. Consultations over the restoration were held in association with the Royal British Legion, Waverley Borough Council listed buildings officers and The Haslemere Society. The contractor undertaking the restoration work is Cathedral Works Organisation (CWO) from Chichester. Its staff have already started work, and plan to complete it in time for Remembrance Sunday. CWO's portfolio has included work on the Diana Memorial Fountain in Hyde Park, Hampton Court and the ancient city gates at St Paul's Cathedral. Pictured with the mayor is Ian Carr from CWO, who has 30 years' experience as a mason. He has worked on projects such as the restoration of Windsor Castle. Residents in Beacon Hill will have noticed that work on the village's memorial has been under way for several weeks. Anyone who wishes to make a donation is asked to send a cheque, made payable to Haslemere Town Council, to the Town Clerk, Haslemere Town Council, High Street, Haslemere, Surrey GU27 2HG.
