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Reading
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NEWS
P1070 updated 1/3/2016
.
The Potts Story
The Project
Make a Donation
The Memorial
The Berkshire Yeomanry
The Victoria Cross
The Great War
Reading
Our Supporters and Sponsors
THE PROJECT
Why donate?Public Benefits
Governance
Future Events
Contact us
NEWS
P1070 updated 1/3/2016
.
The Potts Story - Links
On this page we invite you to visit some other sites which have mentioned our project. Good hunting!
The project to build the memorial was launched in 2011 and charity status gained in 2012 (Reg No 1147047). We were aided by Grant Bodies, public donations, and support from businesses around Reading and from descendants of Trooper Potts and Trooper Andrews. Our Sponsors, Haslams Estate Agents, and Chris Tarrant OBE, provided vital assistance which enabled us to raise the funds required. Overall a net of £177,000 was raised.
In November 2014 the Sculptor was commissioned to start work on the full size clay maquette. The Portland Stone Plinths and carving, by A F Jones Stonemasons ( Click Here), were installed in August 2015, the Roll of Honour by Photocast Products (Click Here) and the Information Boards in September and the sculpture, cast in bronze by the Morris Singer Foundry, ( Click Here) on 2 October 2015. To make all the aspects of the memorials involved some 40 people from 9 trades and professions. Reading Borough Council provided the site and much other support.
To see how the memorial was made Click Here
Progress Reports were published by the media in August 2015:
(ITV Meridian and Reading Chronicle)
We filmed the process of making the memorial and this can be seen HERE
The memorial to Trooper Potts VC and Trooper Andrews was unveiled on 4 October 2015 by Chris Tarrant and the Lord-Lieutenant of Berkshire, Mr J Puxley. The Roll of Honour was unveiled by Lois Gaskell and Emma Shepherd, from the Lower 6th Form at The Abbey School. Music was provided by the Band and Bugles of The Rifles. The 350 invited guests included; mayors and chairman from councils across Old Berkshire, The High Sheriff of Berkshire, Mr D Bertie, Patrons The Hon Mrs Bayliss CVO JP and Mr Michael Naxton, sponsors, descendants of the two men and men listed on the Roll of Honour, brethren of Berkshire Masonry, representatives from the schools and colleges we have worked with and members of the Berkshire Yeomanry Regimental Association. The Deputy Head of Mission at the Turkish Embassy, Minister-Counsellor Mr Fatih Ullusoy read the works of Kemal Ataturk. The 94 (Berkshire Yeomanry) Signal Squadron formed the parade and gave the salute. Some 200 members of the public also attended the service.
Some of the guests and members of the two men's familiess
We are very pleased that all the feedback about the memorials has been so positive. In particular people appreciate the detail of the sculptures and also the items the sculptor placed on the battlefield:- buttons with badges, Turkish belt buckle and uniform button, water bottle, .303 bullets and a SMLE rifle, Huntley and Palmer ration biscuits, Arthur Andrews' pipe and tobacco tin and a reflection of the Maiwand Lion. This latter is very evocative as on the Roll of Honour is the name of Lieutenant G P Blackall-Simonds, the only son of the sculptor of the Maiwand Lion George Blackall-Simonds.
Photographer Stewart Turkington took many photos at the event. To see them ( CLICK HERE)
The local media captured the event so click on their titles below to see their results
BBC South Tody
The report on The Abbey School’s participation can be seen HERE
The order of service can be seen: Order of Service can be seen
The memorial was formally adopted by Reading Borough Council in January 2016, they will arrange the annual cleaning and re-waxing. The Trust, and its successors, however are responsible to cover the cost of the maintenance, which is currently estimated at £1,000 per year. The initial funds raised enable this to be covered for a number of years but we always appreciate further donations which can be made to the Chairman of the Trust Richard Bennett
The Government agreed that a VC Paving Stone would be placed in the home town of every VC from the First World War. The stone for Trooper Potts VC was unveiled at the War Memorial at the edge of Forbury Gardens, Reading, at 5pm on 21st August 2015, 100 hours to the minute from the verbal orders being given to attack Scimitar Hill (Hill 70) during which Troopers Potts and Andrews were wounded and many of their comrades wounded or killed. CLICK HERE
In 2014 a member of the public proposed that a new road to the north of Reading Station should be named Trooper Potts Way. The report by The Chronicle ( CLICK HERE )
In March 2016 Greene King opened a new pub/restaurant on the Basingstoke Road called The Trooper Potts. The trust has worked with the company to provide images and information to assist with the internal fitting out. ( CLICK HERE )
On the 2nd November 2016, in the south chapel of Reading's Henley Road Crematorium, an information board about Trooper Potts was unveiled. We were very grateful for the support of A B Walker and Sons who funded this. Click Here
On the 25th April 2017, outside Freemason's Hall, Covent Garden, a memorial to the Masons who won the VC in the Great War was unveiled. This included Fred Potts who was a member of the Aldermaston Lodge and sometime Master.
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On this page we invite you to visit some other sites which have mentioned our project. Good hunting!
The project to build the memorial was launched in 2011 and charity status gained in 2012 (Reg No 1147047). We were aided by Grant Bodies, public donations, and support from businesses around Reading and from descendants of Trooper Potts and Trooper Andrews. Our Sponsors, Haslams Estate Agents, and Chris Tarrant OBE, provided vital assistance which enabled us to raise the funds required. Overall a net of £177,000 was raised.
Making the memorials – the artistic process
In November 2014 the Sculptor was commissioned to start work on the full size clay maquette. The Portland Stone Plinths and carving, by A F Jones Stonemasons ( Click Here), were installed in August 2015, the Roll of Honour by Photocast Products (Click Here) and the Information Boards in September and the sculpture, cast in bronze by the Morris Singer Foundry, ( Click Here) on 2 October 2015. To make all the aspects of the memorials involved some 40 people from 9 trades and professions. Reading Borough Council provided the site and much other support.
To see how the memorial was made Click Here
Progress Reports were published by the media in August 2015:
(ITV Meridian and Reading Chronicle)
We filmed the process of making the memorial and this can be seen HERE
The Unveiling
The memorial to Trooper Potts VC and Trooper Andrews was unveiled on 4 October 2015 by Chris Tarrant and the Lord-Lieutenant of Berkshire, Mr J Puxley. The Roll of Honour was unveiled by Lois Gaskell and Emma Shepherd, from the Lower 6th Form at The Abbey School. Music was provided by the Band and Bugles of The Rifles. The 350 invited guests included; mayors and chairman from councils across Old Berkshire, The High Sheriff of Berkshire, Mr D Bertie, Patrons The Hon Mrs Bayliss CVO JP and Mr Michael Naxton, sponsors, descendants of the two men and men listed on the Roll of Honour, brethren of Berkshire Masonry, representatives from the schools and colleges we have worked with and members of the Berkshire Yeomanry Regimental Association. The Deputy Head of Mission at the Turkish Embassy, Minister-Counsellor Mr Fatih Ullusoy read the works of Kemal Ataturk. The 94 (Berkshire Yeomanry) Signal Squadron formed the parade and gave the salute. Some 200 members of the public also attended the service.
Some of the guests and members of the two men's familiess
Feedback
We are very pleased that all the feedback about the memorials has been so positive. In particular people appreciate the detail of the sculptures and also the items the sculptor placed on the battlefield:- buttons with badges, Turkish belt buckle and uniform button, water bottle, .303 bullets and a SMLE rifle, Huntley and Palmer ration biscuits, Arthur Andrews' pipe and tobacco tin and a reflection of the Maiwand Lion. This latter is very evocative as on the Roll of Honour is the name of Lieutenant G P Blackall-Simonds, the only son of the sculptor of the Maiwand Lion George Blackall-Simonds.
Images of the unveiling
A film of the occasion was commissioned: Click for either the full version or a short version).Photographer Stewart Turkington took many photos at the event. To see them ( CLICK HERE)
The local media captured the event so click on their titles below to see their results
The report on The Abbey School’s participation can be seen HERE
The order of service can be seen: Order of Service can be seen
Other News
The memorial was formally adopted by Reading Borough Council in January 2016, they will arrange the annual cleaning and re-waxing. The Trust, and its successors, however are responsible to cover the cost of the maintenance, which is currently estimated at £1,000 per year. The initial funds raised enable this to be covered for a number of years but we always appreciate further donations which can be made to the Chairman of the Trust Richard Bennett
The Government agreed that a VC Paving Stone would be placed in the home town of every VC from the First World War. The stone for Trooper Potts VC was unveiled at the War Memorial at the edge of Forbury Gardens, Reading, at 5pm on 21st August 2015, 100 hours to the minute from the verbal orders being given to attack Scimitar Hill (Hill 70) during which Troopers Potts and Andrews were wounded and many of their comrades wounded or killed. CLICK HERE
In 2014 a member of the public proposed that a new road to the north of Reading Station should be named Trooper Potts Way. The report by The Chronicle ( CLICK HERE )
In March 2016 Greene King opened a new pub/restaurant on the Basingstoke Road called The Trooper Potts. The trust has worked with the company to provide images and information to assist with the internal fitting out. ( CLICK HERE )
On the 2nd November 2016, in the south chapel of Reading's Henley Road Crematorium, an information board about Trooper Potts was unveiled. We were very grateful for the support of A B Walker and Sons who funded this. Click Here
On the 25th April 2017, outside Freemason's Hall, Covent Garden, a memorial to the Masons who won the VC in the Great War was unveiled. This included Fred Potts who was a member of the Aldermaston Lodge and sometime Master.
Back to top »
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