FOWC Portfolio

A Forgotten Soldier
Recently we discovered that a soldier we remember in the
Remembrance Services, who is buried in Wombwell Cemetery,
is not actually named on the headstone on his grave. Able
Seaman Arthur Robinson died on a skating rink in Portsmouth
and was brought back to Wombwell to be buried with his
parents. His brother, Albert Robinson, also fought in the war
but is buried in Belgium. Albert is the one named on the grave
below his parent’s description.
We contacted the Commonwealth War Grave Commission,
who insisted that Arthur is the third inscription down – but we
have taken a photo and emailed it on, proving that Albert is in
fact the third inscription down and that there is nothing for
Arthur. We have not heard anything back since, but are
looking to purchase either a war memorial or small stone and
have Arthur finally recognised as being in his family’s grave.
We have liaised with the Bereavement Services who have confirmed that this is okay to do should
the CWGC not supply a war memorial themselves. We aim to have the new stone by November 2017
for the next Remembrance Service, where we will include the story of Arthur and Albert Robinson.
Stained Glass Window
A bigger project, which we aim to be completed in the next few
years, is the installation of a stained glass window in the
Community Hub. In the Hub, the back wall has a large circular
window which is currently filled with plain glass and protected on
the outside with Perspex. Ever since planning the restoration of
the chapel, we have always had the idea of a stained glass
window with a World War I & II related image in the glass. With
the chapel now renovated, we can focus solely on the window.
We have looked into average pricing and are aware that, for the
size of the window, we would need a large amount of money to
complete this. However, with hard work and dedication, we are
The window we would like to
have stained glass.
positive that we will achieve the window we have dreamed of. Lana, one of the Friends, is going to
draw up some designs for the window to save on graphic design prices as she is extremely talented
in digital art and design.
An example of the type of windows we have
been looking at.
“A new stained glass commission for the West
window at Saint John’s School Chapel,
Leatherhead, Surrey, England 2014 on the
centenary of the First World War.” -
stainedglassartist.wordpress.com.