I write on behalf of Van Community Council, to correct the publicised record following a recent article in your paper, “Pupil designed remembrance monument unveiled at St James Primary School”.
It is not true that Van Community Council withdrew funding from the project which it started in collaboration with the school and Healthy Villages Team, Groundwork Caerphilly.
In actual fact Van Community Council paid for the hire of the dumper truck to move the stone from the school wood to the site.
This is what happened. The council withdrew from the project since the sculpture designed by the girl was to be carved out of wood, which is not a durable material.
In notifying Mr Paul Samuel, headteacher, of the decision he was invited to comment, which he did not.
Now, the design has been cut out of granite and the council, if approached, would have helped.
I am informed that the chairman of the school governing body, Cllr Chris Forehead (also a member of Van Community Council), was not informed or invited to the publicised photo call.
The article also failed to give recognition to the work of the Healthy Village Team, volunteers (the clerk to the council, Mr Nathan Lloyd, Cllr Elaine Forehead), and the unpaid work team.
It was important for the project to have volunteers since the Healthy Village Team is not a workforce but will work with volunteers.
Unfortunately, a request by the school for volunteers produced no willing hands to help construct the memorial garden wall. At times I was the only volunteer.
In closing on this chapter, now history, it is great to see the design fulfilled in granite and a lasting statement of how young people perceive that terrible conflict with so much loss of life and god help us if it is ever repeated.
John Dilworth, Clerk to Van Community Council.