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Weekly steps in to boost war memorial campaign

A weekly newspaper has stepped in to help a campaign aimed at paying for a memorial to those who lost their lives in World War Two.

The South Yorkshire town of Rotherham does not currently have a World War Two memorial and, despite many requests to the council to pay for one, it has been left to a group of campaigners to attempt to raise the £30,000 needed.

Now the Rotherham Advertiser has invited readers to send in tributes to family lost at war and, instead of paying the normal rates, asked them to make a donation to the fund.

Editor Andrew Mosley said the paper received around £600 from readers in return for printing their tributes, with one envelope  stuffed with £200 worth of £20 notes.

The Roll of Remembrance was filled with tributes to family lost at war

Said Andrew: “The campaigners came in to see us earlier this year and said they had raised about half the amount but were struggling, so we started our Time to Remember campaign and they have now raised around £23,000.

“People have been extremely generous in sending in money and cheques and we believe the campaign for a memorial to be a fitting one to benefit from our Roll of Remembrance, which has enabled families to pay tribute to and remind others of those who gave their lives for us.

“It is unforgivable that the authorities of Rotherham have never paid for a World War Two memorial, though there is one in Clifton Park for those who lost their lives in World War One.

“It would be nice if they could have one in place while some of those who fought or are related to those who were killed are still here to see it.”

Elaine Humphries, chairwoman of campaign group Friends of Clifton Park, said: “The article in the Advertiser was a heart warming gesture and one that many will remember.

“Our fund has reached £23,000 but we still need more to achieve our goal in 2014 .”