A MEMORIAL to honour Quinton’s war dead from all conflicts is to be unveiled after dogged determination by a local history buff.

Quinton Local History Society chairman Bernard Taylor spearheaded the bid for the town’s first generic memorial to commemorate local people who sacrificed their lives in the name of peace and freedom.

He obtained a grant of almost £2,000 to pay for the black marble memorial from Birmingham Council’s Community Chest and local firm Dallows Monuments was commissioned to make it.

The memorial was erected in Quinton Recreation Ground on May 8 to coincide with the 70th anniversary celebrations of VE Day and will be officially unveiled on Tuesday June 23.

It features an inscription in gold lettering and a red poppy and has been sited in front of the Lebanese Cedar tree which commemorates the centenary celebrations of Quinton’s Annexation to Birmingham.

Mr Taylor said he had thought about the project for several years because, although there were a number of specific memorials, such as in Christ Church to those who lost their lives in the First World War, there was no generic memorial.

He said: “During the celebrations this year, commemorating the centenary of the First World War, I was asked by the acting head of the church school if there was such a memorial for Quinton that the children could lay down a poppy wreath.

“Sadly, I replied there was not, and then I thought it was about time that the people of Quinton had their own war memorial, a generic one to all those who had given the ultimate sacrifice for their country.”

He added: “We now have somewhere to place poppy wreaths and floral tributes when there is a special occasion to commemorate such as Remembrance Sunday.”

The public are invited to the unveiling ceremony at 2pm, during which Quinton rector Rev Jenny Arnold will bless the memorial.

It is hoped six standard bearers and a bugler will also be present.