A fundraising appeal to restore the war memorial at St Mary's Catholic Church has been launched this week.

The memorial on Lyme Road in Axminster was built in 1919 and is looking a bit worse for wear. The memorial is inscribed “In memory of our sailors and soldiers who have fallen in the Great War fighting for King, country and home. It is carved with the dates '1914 -1918' to which has later been added '1939 -1945.'

The plaque is carved from oak in the form of a calvary with Christ hanging on the Cross, the memorial is in need of major restoration which, with work to the base, will cost in the region of £22,000, to be funded through grants, Parish funds and fundraising.

This appeal aims to raise a sum of £10,000 to restore the oak plaque for years to come. A report from the Exeter & Plymouth Gazette from 1919 reports when the plaque was put in place. The article reads: "Yesterday afternoon a solemn service was held at Axminster of blessing and dedicating the Memorial Calvary which has been erected outside the Roman Catholic Church of St. Mary, Lyme Road.

If you are able and willing to help towards the restoration of this historic memorial, you can donate: by cheque to the Parish office, The Priest’s House, St. Mary’s RC Church, Lyme Road, Axminster Ex13 5BE (payable to “PDT The Parish of the Most Holy Trinity” and endorsed on the reverse “War memorial Fund”)

If the appeal project cannot be completed, or if a surplus arises, the remaining appeal funds will be used for general charitable purposes of the parish. For more information email the parish secretary on axminster@prcdtr.org.uk