GD No 2021/0048
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GD No: 2021/0048 The Council of Ministers Annual Report Isle of Man Government Preservation of War Memorials Committee July 2021 Isle of Man Government Preservation of War Memorials Committee Foreword by the Hon Howard Quayle MHK, Chief Minister To: The Hon Stephen Rodan OBE MLC, President of Tynwald and the Honourable Council and Keys in Tynwald assembled In November 2007 Tynwald resolved that the Council of Ministers consider the establishment of a suitable body for the preservation of War Memorials in the Isle of Man. Subsequently in October 2008, following a report by a Working Group established by Council of Ministers to consider the matter, Tynwald gave approval to the formation of the Isle of Man Government Preservation of War Memorials Committee. I am pleased to lay the Annual Report before Tynwald on behalf of the Chair of the Committee. I would like to formally thank the members of the Committee for their interest and dedication shown in the preservation of Manx War Memorials and to especially acknowledge the outstanding voluntary contribution made by all the lay membership. Hon Howard Quayle MHK Chief Minister Isle of Man Government Preservation of War Memorials Committee Annual Report 2 As part of the Committee’s responsibilities, and in my capacity as Chair of the Committee, I am pleased to present the Annual Report to the Council of Ministers. It is very important to ensure that all War Memorials on the Isle of Man are protected and preserved in good order for generations to come. Firstly, I would like to express our deep sadness following the death of Mr Hector Duff OBE MM BEM TH (LdeH). Hector, as he was fondly known to all, was instrumental in the creation of the War Memorials Committee and the creation of the register recording all of the Island’s War Memorials. Hector, together with the late Mr Roger Christian undertook the task of listing war memorials and to this end, all the entries recorded prior to June 2009 credit them as the compilers. We owe them both a debt of gratitude. Additionally I would like to place on record my gratitude for the continuing co-operation of Manx National Heritage, and Jude Dicken in particular, for their ongoing support maintaining the register and making it available for public access. It is wonderful to see the development of the Isle of Man Historic Environment Record, which provides the War Memorials with their own page. This is referred to later in our report. The Committee has continued with its efforts in maintaining an accurate Register of War Memorials; identifying where maintenance work is required and ensuring the long-term preservation of War Memorials. Although the Committee’s work has been halted at times due to the Covid-19 restrictions, the Committee has had a productive year. I wish to thank our members for their dedication to the work of the Committee. Daphne Caine MHK Chair of the Committee The Committee – October 2020 Back row left to right - Mr Keith Dalrymple FRICS, FCIoB, FRSA, Mr Robert Dowty, Mr Bruce Kirkham, The Venerable Andrew Brown Front row left to right – Mrs Fenella Evans, Mrs Daphne Caine MHK, Mr Hector Duff OBE MM BEM TH (LdeH), Mrs Kate Lord-Brennan MLC 3 Contents Page No 1. Introduction............................................................................................................... 5 2. Membership of the Committee .................................................................................... 5 3. Isle of Man War Memorials Register ............................................................................. 5 4. Committee website ..................................................................................................... 6 5. Protecting War Memorials............................................................................................ 6 6. Meetings .................................................................................................................... 7 7. War Memorials legislation ............................................................................................ 7 8. Way Forward ............................................................................................................. 7 9. Photographic record.................................................................................................... 8 Appendix 1 .................................................................................................................... 9 4 1. Introduction At the Tynwald sitting in October 2008, approval was given to the establishment of a body for the Preservation of the Island’s War Memorials to be called the Isle of Man Government Preservation of War Memorials Committee (‘the Committee’). The Committee is responsible for - (a) ensuring a proper registration of War Memorials throughout the Isle of Man; (b) encouraging the proper maintenance and upkeep of such memorials; and (c) avoiding the destruction of, or overseeing the removal of, such memorials by encouraging the owners or custodians to advise the Committee that such is likely prior to such actions being taken so as to enable the Committee to ascertain any actions that may be appropriate for them to safeguard the memorial. The establishment of the Committee did not remove the responsibility for War Memorials from Local Authorities. The Committee is required to produce an Annual Report to be published and made available on the Government website. 2. Membership of the Committee The membership of the Committee is as follows: Chair: Mrs Daphne Caine MHK Vice Chair: Mrs Kate Lord-Brennan MLC Lay Members: The Venerable Andrew Brown Ms Liz Boakes Mr Keith Dalrymple FRICS, FCIoB, FRSA Mr Robert Dowty Mr Dean Johnson Mr Bruce Kirkham 3. Isle of Man War Memorials Register The Register, compiled by the Committee and maintained by Manx National Heritage (“MNH”), includes the following information: • location; • brief description; • photographs showing the War Memorial and its location; • (where known) the war, campaign, action or unit commemorated; • the date of erection and/or dedication; • transcript of inscriptions and names so that a permanent record exists in case of future damage or loss; and • (where known) the designer/maker/craftsperson who created the War Memorial At the same time as compiling the register, the Committee has identified the physical condition and vulnerability to damage of each War Memorial in order to assess the need for 5 conservation works. It was agreed that Manx National Heritage (‘MNH’) would maintain the register with updates being provided by the Committee. MNH has responsibility for the care and promotion of Isle of Man’s natural and cultural heritage and in March 2021 went live with the new Isle of Man Historic Environment Record database and website: https://isleofmanher.im (“IOMHER”). The continued collaboration between the Committee and MNH has provided the resources to develop a major research tool for members of the public, commercial operations and academics alike. The Island’s War Memorials are given their own section on the IOMHER homepage that includes a single link to all 223 memorials on the interactive map. Each memorial is marked by its own pin on the map with a link to a list of those commemorated (which biographies can be added to) as well as links to any relevant items from Manx National Heritage collections, for example a photograph (since digitised) of the memorial when it was unveiled. A full report, which includes the history of the memorial, current condition, satellite map, and any modern images of the War Memorial is available to view and print. The MNH record also includes the grid reference, condition report, historic information and digital mapping of the memorials. To search for War Memorials follow https://www.imuseum.im/search/all/search?term=war+memorials There are also links from the website iMuseum (https://www.imuseum.im/) to IOMHER. An extract taken from the register of War Memorials, which lists the locations and types of memorial, is attached at Appendix 1. 4. Committee website A website has been established for the Committee under: https://www.gov.im/about-the-government/council-of-ministers/the-council-of- ministers/war-memorials-committee/ 5. Protecting War Memorials The Committee recommends the attention of custodians should be drawn to the extensive technical and practical advice available from the War Memorials Trust and Historic England and arranged for the following documents be issued to all Local Authorities: UK Department for Constitutional Affairs – Guidance for Custodians War Memorials Trust – Bulletin – We will remember 1914 – 1918 War Memorials Trust – Conserving War Memorials War Memorials Trust – Protecting our war memorials together leaflet Links to the documents can be obtained on the Committee website; or printed versions from the Committee Secretary (Fenella Evans), at the Cabinet Office, Government Office, Bucks Road, Douglas, Tel: 685314 or Email: [email protected]. The Committee agreed to provide practical guidance notes (listed below), in a printed format, for distribution by the Archdeacon to the new Church Wardens in the Diocese. This initiative will assist the Church Wardens to fulfil their responsibility in the maintenance and upkeep of War Memorials. • Historic England - Conservation and Management of War Memorial Landscapes 6 • Historic England - Conservation, Repair and Management of War Memorials • Historic Scotland - The Repair and Maintenance of War Memorials During the past year the Committee has visited some extremely