Clock restored in time to honour world war heroes
THE first of a two-part process to refurbish Clyne War Memorial in Brora has been completed, with its four-faced clock restored to its former glory.
The memorial is being refitted ahead of World War I centenary commemorations later in the year
The Friends of Clyne War Memorial Association is organising the restoration and received £5914 from the government’s Centenary Memorials Restoration Fund for the work.
As well as the clock refurbishment, the money has allowed repairs to be carried out on the memorial’s side steps, rails, front plinth, louvres and surround walls.
This work is being carried out by Highland Council and the association hopes it will be completed over the next couple of weeks.
Secretary of the group, Kathleen Cunningham, said: "We are absolutely delighted that this is going ahead and that we were successful. It has been quite a feather in the cap for the village.
"So far, so good, the clock has just been completed and it’s looking very smart indeed."
Clock makers Smith of Derby carried out the work on the historic timepiece which famously chimes in time with Big Ben – at its James Ritchie and Son’s workshops in Broxburn, West Lothian.
Engineers cleaned and restored the clock dials, with opal glass replacing the existing perspex on the dials to return them to their original state. The steelworks surrounding the clock were also cleaned and painted.
Smith of Derby technical sales consultant, Tony Charlesworth, said: "The Brora war memorial is a beautiful construction and it is vital that the clocks are running to the correct time."
The Clyne War Memorial was built around 1920 to commemorate those who gave their lives in WWI.
Friends of Clyne War Memorial have a service planned on Remembrance Sunday and another on January 1 where they will lay a wreath on behalf of village. They hold this small and informal ceremony annually and are accompanied by a piper.
