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... the Shropshire Star presents the facts... February 2010

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In their Oswestry edition of February 24 the Shropshire Star felt it in the interests of their readers, to publish the facts about grammatical errors on the plaque fixed to the front elevation of the IBB-IJLB Association's memorial at Cae Glas Park in Oswestry>>

The IBB-IJLB Association, who appear to be in denial over the extent and gravity of public feeling with regard to these errors, responded to the Star's reporter by announcing that the decision as to whether or not the plaque will be replaced, can only be made by members attending their AGM in October.

Shortly after the Shropshire Star's article appeared, a topic was started on the IBB-IJLB Association forum which has recently closed to public access. Amid a flurry of support from forum regulars and outright rejection of criticism - Ken Nicol, Secretary, a former Gordon Highlander and planning official who was responsible for designing the memorial and also wrote the words displayed on the plaque said "The greatest gift this Association has given me is not memorials but the chance to meet some very special people, the gentlemen of the IJLB".

In response, Mike Day a former J/CSM Guards, now an editorial photographer and director of a retail art group, who passed on complaints received from the public to the Association said, "This memorial is important and it has nothing to do with gifts. Ken's duty, as Secretary, was to serve the people of Oswestry and all those who contributed to the memorial, with, if not something very special, at least a competent job".

Mr Day, who was heavily involved in the early stages of the memorial project, to the extent of taking on the job of raising the money to pay for it, went on to say "I dropped out a couple of years ago because I could no longer work under Ken's direction as Secretary, to accept the - cheapest, easiest option, so we can just get it done then drop out and get back to our lives. Both the errors on the plaque and Ken's flippancy in response to the article published in the Shropshire Star, are embarrassing for us all, to say the least.".

Sources revealed that Mr Nicol is now pressing on with his design for a memorial garden at Park Hall, apparently with no requirement for AGM approval for his design of what is reported to be a 30x70ft plot.