'I'm cleaning war tributes in memory of grandad'

The grandson of a World War Two soldier who stormed a French beach on D-Day says it has been a pleasure cleaning two city centre memorials.

Joel Haigh, 36, from Fresh Memory Headstone Cleaning and Restoration Service, was hired by Hull City Council to restore the Paragon Square War Memorial and the adjacent Boer War Memorial.

Haigh said he took on the project in memory of his late grandfather, Len Wooldridge, who was part of the second wave that landed on Sword Beach, on the Normandy coast, on 6 June 1944.

"Each brick by brick has been scrubbed by hand, and it's been a real pleasure," he said.

Woolridge, who served with the Army Survey Regiment, died in January 2008. He was 84.

Haigh said: "It's just been really heartfelt being able to accomplish something like this, especially because I feel like I'm doing it in my grandad's memory."

As a child, he watched his grandfather take part in Hull's annual Remembrance parades.

"He used to come marching down here," said Haigh. "And we always came to watch him. Every year.

"He's no longer with us now, but we've all continued to come as a family. It's something he instilled in us."

Haigh added: "I'm going to be standing over there, at the next parade with so much pride and a smile on my face, knowing I've done this. It's going to be lovely."

The cleaning process had been "very meticulous", said Haigh, who has not used any power tools or machinery.

He said "acidic" bird faeces - as well as moss, lichen, pollen and algae - had damaged the memorial.

"We have to take each layer off in stages," said Haigh.

"The cenotaph has been erected for about 100 years, but the actual Portland stone itself is about 150 million years old."

He added that he hoped the works would be completed this week, depending on weather conditions.

Mark Ieronimo, the council's cabinet portfolio holder for transport and infrastructure, said: "The war memorials in Paragon Square are not just historically significant but are a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by those who served their country.

"By carefully cleaning and restoring both the Paragon Square War Memorial and the Boer War Memorial, we are helping to ensure they continue to be a place of remembrance, reflection and respect for many years to come."

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