AN EAST Lothian war memorial has been restored to ensure it is preserved for future generations.

Wallyford Community Council, in partnership with St Clement’s Church, held a rededication of the Crookston War Memorial on Monday.

Members of the community council and the church were joined at Inveresk Cemetery for the special ceremony.

Alister Hadden, vice-chairman of the Wallyford’s community council, said: “We were really very privileged by having our guests come along, who were Allana Hughes, War Memorials Conservation Officer for Scotland, MP Fiona O’Donnell, MSP Colin Beattie and our Provost Ludovic Broun-Lindsay, who led the floral tributes to the 61 fallen from Wallyford, Whitecraig, Smeaton and our district.” The restoration came about after a grant of £2,115 from the Centenary Memorials Restoration Fund and a further £600 from East Lothian Council’s Civic Pride Fund.

Extensive weathering of areas of the red sandstone memorial had led to concerns about its condition.

The memorial was first erected at Crookston School, which was located between Whitecraig and Wallyford.

The school closed nearly 60 years ago and the memorial, bearing the names of the 61 soldiers from Wallyford, Whitecraig and Smeaton who were killed during the First World War, was moved to Inveresk Cemetery, where it is still located.

On Monday afternoon, piper Michael Morrison played various songs at the start of the ceremony and at the end of the rededication ceremony played ‘The battle’s over’.

Elaine di Troia and Beryl Stevenson, from the community council, presented the floral tribute to Provost Broun-Lindsay, who laid the floral tribute to the fallen that are named on the memorial.

A special card had the message: “At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them, the brave men from our community who gave their lives.” Fellow community councillor Scott Alan read the poem ‘In Flanders Fields’, during which many of those attending laid remembrance crosses with poppies.

The Rev John Ostler, of St Clement’s Church, rededicated the Crookston War Memorial and gave the final blessing at the close of the ceremony.

David Plain played the Last Post on the bugle, followed by Reveille/Rouse.