On Remembrance Sunday in Blyth, Friends of Ridley Park will be laying a purple wreath at their newly commissioned memorial that remembers animals who lost their lives in conflicts.

The memorial features a pigeon, dog and horse to represent all the animals lost in conflicts.

Friends of Ridley Park will lay a purple wreath at the memorial immediately after the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph, which finishes at 11.30am on Sunday, November 8.

Secretary Claire Young said: “This all came about because a new member of our group identified a tree stump near the Cenotaph in Ridley Park and said it would be ideal for an animal memorial, so the fundraising began.

The animal memorial in Ridley Park and the bottom section of the memorial.

placeholder image — The animal memorial in Ridley Park and the bottom section of the memorial.

“As it turned out that tree stump wasn’t suitable for carving, but chainsaw sculptor Tommy Craggs – who created the memorial – and Northumberland County Council identified another tree he could use.”

Friends of Ridley Park used some of their own funds to commission the work and they are extremely grateful to the Commissioner’s Quay pub and hotel, Royal British Legion Blyth, the Rotary Club of Blyth, local councillor Adrian Cartie and other private donors.

Claire added: “The memorial has attracted lots of interest, with people watching Tommy at work and commenting that it’s a wonderful addition to the park.

“We’re so pleased to have this beautiful memorial in the park and thank Tommy for his excellent work. It is a very fitting tribute to animals who are often overlooked as casualties of war.”