Bilsthorpe residents defiant after Remembrance poppy memorial targeted by vandals, as Nottinghamshire Police investigate incident
A village has come together in defiance after a remembrance memorial display was vandalised overnight.
The display, on Eakring Road, Bilsthorpe, is entirely self-funded by residents and features hand made wooden statue silhouettes of soldiers, knitted and crocheted characters and poppies, and other items.
Residents awoke this morning (Wednesday) to find that the memorial had been vandalised, with statues snapped and broken, a veteran’s photo damaged, and poppies kicked over.
Now, residents have said they will pick up the pieces and not let the vandals win, while a fundraising page has also been set up to cover repair costs.
“This has been going for five years and it has never happened before,” said Glenys Pinnock, whose husband Arthur made the wooden statues. “It looked absolutely amazing.
“I’m so annoyed — they’ve literally smashed it all up and I can’t believe what they’ve done.
“But I knew the village would rally, because they know how much hard work it is.
“My husband wanted to take it all down the tip, but I said no, because otherwise they’ve won and they’re not going to win.
“We’re going home, taking a moment, and then we’re going to put them all back up again.”
Bilsthorpe also runs a monthly breakfast club for veterans in the village hall, which was taking place this morning when news about the vandalism was shared.
The incident has been reported to Nottinghamshire Police, who confirmed that they were investigating the incident.
A police spokesperson said: “The criminal damage was reported to the police around 7.50am today and is believed to have been caused in the early hours of the morning.
“We completely appreciate the upset this incident has caused to the local community and are determined to track down whoever was responsible.”
Anyone with information is asked to call the police on 101, quoting incident 88 of October 22, or report it anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.