EXPERT military grave restorer Steve Davies has completed his refurbishment of Teignmouth’s seafront war memorial.
War veteran Steve, who served in the British Army in the Royal Green Jackets, is renowned for his work restoring long-forgotten war graves and war memorials.
A qualified stonemason, Steve, now in his 60s, is dedicated to what he calls his ‘personal passion’ which started as a ‘one man band’ and has restored graves as far afield as Sierra Leone and Iraq.
He was brought in by Teignmouth Town Council, which is responsible for the upkeep of the memorial, to carry out a thorough renovation of the historical monument.
The council paid £1,707 for the war memorial to be cleaned but Steve’s work is not for profit and all money paid goes towards his travel costs and materials.
The Teignmouth War Memorial, prominently situated on the Upper Den Carriageway, was initially unveiled on January 22, 1921.
This Grade II listed obelisk serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made during the First World War, Second World War, First Cyprus Emergency, and various 20th-century conflicts.
A spokesperson for the Teignmouth Town Council emphasised the memorial’s deep significance.
They said: ‘The war memorial serves as a profound and essential tribute to all the lives sacrificed and the courage displayed by everyone involved.
‘We were excited to enlist the services of Steve Davies to clean the war memorial, thereby honouring the fallen soldiers who gave their lives.’
In addition to refurbishing the main memorial, Steve also cleaned the Victoria Cross Monument near the Den bowling green and Brian Hall MBE, chairman of the Teignmouth Remembrance Committee, was on-hand to assist throughout the project.
The council spokesman added: ‘This refurbishment project underscores Teignmouth Town Council’s commitment to preserving the memory of those who bravely served their country.
‘The collaboration with Steve Davies ensured that the war memorial continues to stand as a beacon of remembrance and respect for generations to come.’