Not only was Grayshott’s 1921 war memorial estored to its former glory in advance of Remembrance Day, the cross now bears the Hampshire rose emblem.

Grayshott Parish Council agreed the cross should be replaced after a close inspection by contractors Anstey and Stone revealed it had a split in it.

Parish council clerk Laura Musco said: “Once the memorial was cleaned and a matching stone had been sourced, the cross was removed and a replica carved. Prior to carving a decision had to be taken on the motif in the centre of the cross as the original was so badly eroded that it could not be identified, and no records of what it was could be found.

“Councillors decided that an appropriate symbol would be a Hampshire rose.

“The parish council is grateful to East Hampshire District Council for approving the use of Section 106 funds to enable this project to be completed.

“The original cross has been cleaned and is currently being held by Grayshott Society. A permanent home for it will be decided in the future.”

A ceremony was held to rededicate Grayshott’s war memorial, attended by the Royal British Legion which a standard bearer. The Rev Moray Thomas, vicar of St Luke’s Church, Grayshott, conducted the ceremony and Rev Jeremy Haswell, associate minister at St Luke’s acted as bugler and played The Last Post and Reveille.