Plans For Penrhiwceiber War Memorial
Written by Gavin on 6th October 2021
Plans are underway to restore the Penrhiwceiber War Memorial to its former glory as part of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s ongoing commitment to its Armed Forces community.
The focal point of the community for many years, the Penrhiwceiber War Memorial, a Grade II listed building by Cadw, also serves as the village clock. But in recent years its condition has deteriorated and the clock no longer works.
The Council is currently planning a major restoration project which will once again see the clock working again, as well as enhancing the monument and surrounding area.
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Deputy Leader and Armed Forces Champion, Councillor Maureen Webber, recently met with local ward Members and Council Officers to discuss the plans.
Made up of stone from the old Aberdare Canal, the monument commemorates the residents of Penrhiwceiber who died in action during the First World War (1914-18), the Second World War (1939-45) and the Korean War (1950-53).
The castellated tower, with circular clock faces set on the structure, also includes inscribed brass panels, commemorating the Fallen from the village of Penrhiwceiber.
The restoration of Penrhiwceiber War Memorial is being co-ordinated between ward members, the Council and its Armed Forces Veteran Service.
Councillor Maureen Webber, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council Deputy Leader and Armed Forces Champion, said: “We owe so much to our veterans, past and present. So many people were lost during the two World Wars and other conflicts and keeping their memories alive by restoring the war memorial in the village of Penrhiwceiber is the least we can do to honour them.
“The Clock is the centrepiece of the local community and holds so much meaning to local residents, and that was clear in my recent meeting with the local ward Councillors.
“This Council is committed to supporting its Armed Forces community, both veterans and their families, and we have a dedicated Armed Forces Veterans Service offering them advice and support.
“We must never forget what these people sacrificed for our future.”
Restoration plans for the Penrhiwceiber War Memorial include repairing the clock and the cleansing of the dial faces in order for it to function properly, along with the specialist cleansing of the brass panels and surrounding stonework and architecture.
There are also plans in place to site commemorative street furniture in the vicinity, such as seating and litter bins, along with a memorial planter at the foot of the clock tower, as well as a general cleansing of the surrounding location.
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council was one of the first Local Authorities in Wales to sign up to the Armed Forces Covenant in 2012, a commitment that was reaffirmed in 2018.
The Council’s Armed Forces Veterans Service offers a wide range of assistance on subjects such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Housing, Adult Social Care, Benefits, Finances and Employment.
Providing FREE, impartial and dedicated information, advice and support, members of the Armed Forces, past and present, can speak to dedicated officers in strict confidence. Call 07747 485 619 or by email: VeteranService@rctcbc.gov.uk