Phil Gillam: Standing tall - the history of Lord Hill

And yet few who walk or drive past the column every day will know very much about the man whose statue stands at the top of this 133ft high pillar – the highest Greek Doric column in England.

Nor is everyone aware of the valiant fundraising efforts being made to replace the original statue that has, for two centuries, been battered by every kind of weather.

So with this year being the 200th anniversary of the column, now is surely the time for us to reacquaint ourselves with one of the great soldiers of his age, and find out more about plans for the landmark's restoration.

Rowland Hill was born at Prees Hall in North Shropshire on August 11, 1772. His father had wanted him to be a lawyer, but Roland had ambitions to be a soldier.

His father acquiesced and purchased a commission in the army for his son.

Formal military training in Strasbourg followed.

At the age of 21, Captain Rowland Hill saw action at Toulon on the south coast of France late in 1793. A British force had landed to support the people of Toulon against the Republican government in Paris. The expeditionary force was later compelled to withdraw by the success of the Republican troops led by a certain Napoleon Bonaparte.

It would not be the last time that the paths of Hill and Napoleon would cross.

The British General O'Hara was taken prisoner by the French during that British withdrawal, but he said of his friend, Roland Hill: "That young man will rise to be one of the first soldiers of the age".

And so it proved to be.

Over several campaigns, because of the kindness and understanding he showed to the men under his command, Rowland became known affectionately among the rank and file soldiers as 'Daddy Hill'. They knew he would do his best for them.

An extraordinary career (he was also MP for Shrewsbury, 1812-1814) culminated in June 1815 with Hill leading the charge of Sir Frederick Adam's brigade against Napoleon's legendary Imperial Guard towards the end of the Battle of Waterloo.

For some time it was thought that Hill had fallen in the chaos of battle, but – it turned out – he had actually escaped unwounded.

His successes brought him several awards from allied nations and he became Commander-in-Chief of the British Army in 1828, and Viscount Hill of Almaraz in 1842.

And so to the Grade 2* Listed statue and column which was designed by local architect Edward Haycock, and was the only commemorative column in the country to have been erected while the war with Napoleon was still raging and its hero still alive.

Rev Richard Hayes, chairman of the Friends of Lord Hill's Column, has said: "In 1814 the people of Shropshire raised the £5,973.13s.2d required to build the column and create the statue to honour Shropshire's most famous General, Lord Hill, and we owe it to our local historical celebrity to maintain this notable example of Shropshire's military and cultural heritage."

Costs of replacing the weather-damaged statue have been estimated at around £500,000. We can all help by becoming a Friend of Lord Hill's Column for just £5. To find out more or to donate towards the fundraising, visit the Friends website: friendsoflordhillscolumn.co.uk or see their Facebook page.