REMEMBRANCE Sunday was marked with an extra special tribute courtesy of South Wraxall unveiling its war memorial at St James Church to end a two-year long project.

Thanks to contributions from sponsored walks, council funding, personal donations and other fundraising events, the £9800 Yorkshire stone memorial was on its way to Wiltshire.

“It looks wonderful,” said the church’s warden David Wyper. “Everyone is extremely pleased, certainly a lot better than we anticipated. There weren’t any complaints which was good.”

“The occasion went very well and it was a very good turnout. The villagers made all this happen so I want to thank them again.”

Several families of the 12 servicemen who served in both world wars were in attendance for the remembrance service, including the last occupant of South Wraxall Manor, the Honorary Sara Morrison, who unveiled the memorial.

“What a brilliant effort from Mr Wyper and his colleagues. It is superbly done, an absolutely charming memorial,” said Mrs Morrison, whose father, second Viscount Long of Wraxall, died during World War Two and is remembered on the memorial and on a plaque in the church.

“It was a lovely day and very nice to see so many friends and ex villagers who returned for the occasion.”

An architect from the upper village, Richard Charles-Jones, had his design of a tapering ellipse with the top cut off to form a slope was selected and York stone was chosen due to its hard, well carved and affordable make-up.

With the 2014 centenary of the outbreak of the First World War, seven villagers oversaw the initiative that started out as a brass plaque and ended up as a memorial to do the village proud.