Bristol Blitz memorial plaques in place

A MEMORIAL naming the 1,300 men, women and children who were killed in the Bristol Blitz has finally been fixed into its permanent position in time for Remembrance Day.

Retired aircraft worker Keith Jones ran a three-year campaign to have the names of the civilians and other home front victims of World War II bombing raids put on public display.

A series of plaques bearing the names was officially unveiled by the Lord Mayor of Bristol, Chris Davies, at a moving ceremony held six weeks ago at the bombed ruins of St Peter's Church in Castle Park.

But at the time Bristol City Council was unable to fix the memorial onto the church as it had to decide where it should be positioned so people could read the names without too much difficulty.

It also had to ensure it could be bolted on securely and in line with any requirements set down by English Heritage.

Some people who were not at the ceremony but who have made special journeys to see the names of loved ones were disappointed not to be able to see the memorial.

But now the plaques are in place and on show to all visitors to the church, which has stood as a reminder of the horrors of war since it was hit during the Blitz.

Mr Jones, 75, of Cleeve Park Road, Downend, said: "I wanted to make sure the names on the plaques could be read easily so they had to be put at the correct height.

"I'm so pleased they are now fixed into place, especially as we are coming up to Remembrance Day."

Those named on the memorial are those who died in raids in the greater Bristol area during the war, including firefighters, the police and air raid wardens, as well as ordinary families.

They include Mr Jones' own father, Mornington, 40, and his 14-year-old brother, Trevor, who were killed when a bomb landed in Horfield in 1941.

r Jones, who was eight at the time, survived because he was with his mother Eleanor and three-year-old sister Maureen in an Anderson shelter.

Mornington Jones had just finished work at the Bristol Aeroplane Company and was thought to be making his way to the shelter when the bomb fell and killed him. Trevor, was on fire-watching duty with neighbour Fred Stant, 37, and they also perished.

Local historian John Penny had collected the names of the victims over many years and worked with Mr Jones on the memorial project. The £3,000 funding for the Bristol Blitz plaques came from an anonymous benefactor.