ODSEY S own version of the Cenotaph has been given a make-over ahead of Remembrance Day. The Odsey War Memorial, in Station Road, was designed and built by Sir Edwin Lutyens, the architect of the Cenotaph in London. Members of the Mordens branch of

ODSEY'S own version of the Cenotaph has been given a make-over ahead of Remembrance Day.

The Odsey War Memorial, in Station Road, was designed and built by Sir Edwin Lutyens, the architect of the Cenotaph in London.

Members of the Mordens branch of the Royal British Legion have carried out the restoration work with the help of Jeremy Fordham, who owns the land on which the memorial is built.

David Crow, of the Morden Royal British Legion, said: "This is the only memorial Lutyens built that resembles the Cenotaph, it's like a miniature version.

"It was erected in the 1920s, but it had become covered by foliage and a lot of people didn't even know it was there.

"The project to restore it has been going on for the last 14 months, and it was always our target to have it finished by Remembrance Sunday this year.

"I was talking to Jeremy about the memorial some time ago, and he kindly offered to help us. He brought the new fence, and lent us his forklift truck. We've also had a lot of assistance from his farm manager, Roy Norman."

Mr Fordham has a family connection to the memorial. He said: "It was my cousin in Ashwell who first brought Lutyens to the area, when she asked him to do some work on her house. My great uncle, George Fordham, who lived in Odsey, then met him and asked if he could design this war memorial.

"It looks a lot better now - previously it was all overgrown and hidden from view."

Volunteers from the Royal British Legion had to clear the area and cut back a hedge. They pulled down the old fence and erected a new one, while the memorial itself was cleaned using a pressure washer.

On Sunday, Mr Fordham will be laying a wreath at the memorial as part of the Remembrance Day ceremony, which begins at 9.30am.

Albert Wilmott, the oldest surviving Second World War veteran from Odsey, will be giving the exhortation and the Kohima address.