A Year 13 Engineering student has come up with an innovative way to mark Remembrance Day while working towards his BTEC qualification at the same time, by creating a permanent war memorial to stand proudly on the school grounds.
Angus Timblick-Statham, who studies at UTC Oxfordshire in Didcot, has been a cadet in the Royal Marines for seven years. In this time he has attended numerous Remembrance parades and services and feels it is important to remind the younger generation of the sacrifices our forefathers – and mothers – made for us.
Speaking on BBC Oxford radio on 8 November, Angus said: “It’s really important to keep spreading the message through the community.
“I thought about making a memorial for the school about three months ago as I thought maybe the students passing would take a moment to think about the message.
“The physical work tied in with units we do for our engineering projects. So I sourced the classic silhouette of the soldier leaning on his rifle online, and had two steel versions laser cut, which I then spray painted black and welded together. It’s quite a simple design but striking – as you walk around it has a 3D feel and casts a great shadow.”
The memorial was dug and set on the Wednesday preceding Remembrance Day in a pleasant grassy spot, overlooking the school fields and sheltered by trees.
The grand unveiling took place on Friday, where Angus marched with fellow members of the school’s CCF (Combined Cadet Force), before placing a series of engineered poppy wreaths, created by Year 10 students this week, at the memorial’s feet.
Angus is keen to point out that this isn’t just for school-users – it’s for the whole Didcot community to enjoy: “You can see it from the road driving past,” he said.
Angus is enormously grateful to those who donated to his Crowdfunding appeal to get the memorial made. He raised £350 through Justgiving – including a £100 donation from the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
“The response has been amazing – people have been really enthusiastic about getting behind this, because it’s a message that everyone feels needs to be remembered. And because it’s a community project, businesses were keen to donate.”
Angus concludes: “I think the memorial will spark more conversation on Remembrance in the school. Even when I was making it there was lots of conversations about why. Young people do need to talk about it more, not just on the day but in the time leading up to it. We have to remember.”
Samantha Knowlton, Executive Principal of UTC Oxfordshire, said: ‘’I am extremely proud of this memorial being on UTC Oxfordshire’s site. I truly appreciate the respect of Angus and his fellow students, who see the memorial as an important reminder of those who have served to ensure our civil liberties remain. Angus has been tenacious in this quest and the memorial will stand to remind us of the sacrifice that our Armed Forces make and have made to protect us.’’
