Wells lives Alan Williams
ALAN WILLIAMS AND HISWIFE MARGARET HAVE WORKED FOR 18 MONTHS TO CREATE A MEMORIAL TO HARRY PATCH, THE LAST SURVIVING SOLDIER TO FIGHT IN THE THE FIRST WORLD WAR. IN MAY, THIS TRIBUTEWILL BE UNVEILED IN WELLS
Q. When did you first become interested in Harry Patch’s story? A. In 2007 I came across The Last Fighting Tommy written by Richard van Emden, which told Harry’s life story. I knew that Harry was living at Fletcher House in Wells and was inspired to pop in and get my copy of the book signed. Q. How did you become friends? A. I was invited to stay and chat with Harry when I visited to get his autograph and he asked me to come back to see him again. During subsequent visits I asked him about his childhood and he loved telling me about growing up near the stone mines in Combe Down in Bath. Q. Why was Harry so remarkable? A. Harry died on 25 July 2009 aged 111, and at that time he was the oldest man in Europe, the third oldest man in the world, and the
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68th oldest man to have ever lived, so he was remarkable not just for being the last surviving Tommy who fought in the First World War, but also for continuing to such a ripe old age. He remained bright, sharp and opinionated to the last. Q. So how did the idea for a memorial come about? A. After we saw a photo tribute to him in a local restaurant, it inspired us to do something about getting a proper memorial in Wells, the city he called home for 40 years. Q. How did you raise the money? A. We set up a collection stand in the market place and did a collection at Tesco. We received a pledge from Hinckley Point and donations from other individuals. The project has raised nearly £10,000 but businesses and supporters have donated a lot of the materials and labour required for free, for which we are very grateful. Q. So what’s the memorial
going to look like? A. It will be a large piece of oolitic limestone, donated by Doulting Stone Quarry, which is the same stone used to build the western façade of the Cathedral. Inset into that will be a plaque made of Welsh slate, donated by Wells Cathedral Masons. The slate will bear a dedication to Harry and to all the fallen boys of the Great War – it was very important to him to remember the ‘other boys’ who died. Q. Where will the memorial be located? A. It will be in front of the Wells Museum. We’ve also used money from the fund to pay for heritage signage around the city centre. Q. What will be happening on Sunday 6 May? A. There will be an evensong service at Wells Cathedral at 3pm, which will include a dedication to Harry. Afterwards we’ll have a procession and an unveiling ceremony and speeches. We’re hoping to make it a wonderful afternoon that everyone in the city, especially the children, will remember for the rest of their lives. Q. Who will be unveiling the memorial? A. A young soldier who served in Afghanistan. We felt it was important that the ceremony should be performed by an ordinary soldier, just like Harry was. He never saw himself as a hero, just an ordinary man doing his duty. This is a memorial to every man and woman who served this country, of which Harry was the last survivor. WL
To find out exactly what’s happening on Sunday 6 May, keep an eye on the local press or ask for details at the National Trust shop or Wells Museum.
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