A PROJECT to remember Pershore's war heroes has received funding support.

Taylor Wimpey Midlands, which is constructing new homes at its Mirabelle Gardens development on the northern outskirts of the town, has donated has given £500 to the Pershore Town Council project.

The council launched a £49,000 fundraising drive last September to install a stained-glass window in its cemetery chapel as a permanent memorial to those who fought in the First and Second World Wars and contributed on the home front.

The chapel, built in 1875, underwent a major restoration in 2013 as part of a project which received praise from English Heritage and the District Council.

However, the Victorian-era building has leaded windows without any stained glass, so the council saw this as an ideal opportunity to further improve the building and create a new memorial to the town’s war efforts.

Ann Dobbins, clerk to the town council, says: “We are extremely grateful to Taylor Wimpey for their generosity and support. Donations such as this are vitally important and the fact that they are prepared to support the project is a huge boost.”

The chapel’s cemetery contains 60 graves from the Second World War era and eight scattered burials from the First World War, while the town’s war memorial is inscribed with the names of 127 Pershore people who gave their lives for their country.

The majority of the graves from the 1939-1945 conflict are Commonwealth War Graves as two Royal Air Force stations staffed by Canadian and other commonwealth airmen were based near Pershore.

It is intended that the commemoration project will be completed in time for November 11 2018, to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One.

Anne Wallace, sales and marketing director for Taylor Wimpey Midlands, said: “As a considerate, responsible local housebuilder we are committed to supporting the communities in which we build our new homes, so we were delighted to make this donation to Pershore Town Council.

“Projects like this really do foster community spirit and we are honoured to be playing a part in helping Pershore commemorate its war heroes and the town’s efforts on the home front during wartime.”

The left-hand panel of the window depicts images from the First World War, the right-hand panel from the Second World War, and the central panel shows images of Pershore today at peace.

To support the fundraising, application packs are available from Pershore Town Hall or the library. Enquiries can also be made by emailing townclerk@pershore-tc.gov.uk.