Family calls for childhood rock as memorial to Telford peace activist and war veteran
The family of a well-known Shropshire peace activist have asked for a rock with fond childhood memories to be located, moved and installed as his monument.
George Evans, who fought in Normandy, witnessed the liberation of Belsen, and devoted his life to peace after the Second World War, died aged 97 last year.
Since his passing, Wellington Town Council has discussed placing a permanent memorial in the Peace Garden he set up outside the civic centre.
The council's policy and resources committee originally commissioned a local artist who provided two contemporary sculpture designs, but town clerk Karen Roper told members the rock would “mean far more” to the family.
The committee agreed to instruct its environmental team to find and retrieve the rock, and ask the family to draft a suitable inscription.
Activist, author, councillor and teacher Mr Evans lived in Wellington all his life and died in September 2020.
His wife, Naomi Evans had passed away 10 years earlier, and he is survived by his two sons.
The committee considered two designs submitted by Wellington-based Jacob Chandler.
The committee chose one, titled Equilibrium, and this was referred to the Evans family.
Thoughtful
Ms Roper said the town council was very grateful to Mr Chandler for his “brilliant and thoughtful designs”, but said it would not pursue them, in light of the family’s wishes.
She told this week’s policy and resources committee meeting: “We’ve received communication from the Evans family and they’re looking for something very much more simple.
“They’re looking for a rock. They’ve even identified the rock they want, which is under a hedge in a field, and we have to find it, because it’s going to be all overgrown now. They used to play on it as children.
“They said that would mean far more to them than having the sort of thing we put forward.”
Chairman Stephen DeLauney said: “We always said we would take our proposals back to the family and try to adhere by their wishes.
“This is for the people of Wellington to remember George Evans. He was public property – he made himself public property. But it also has to be something for the family to remember him by, so we need to follow their wishes.”
Councillor DeLauney added that the family had suggested an alternative approach, if the rock cannot be found or is irretrievable.
“If we can’t find this specific rock, they have suggested another one, or another sort of rock,” he said.
Deputy mayor Paul Davis said: “I think the rock is a far more suitable tribute, especially given the back story the family have put forward.
“It’s far more in-keeping with the location of the Peace Garden. It’s a really smart move – hopefully we can find it!”
