A WAR memorial has been “beautifully refurbished”, restoring it to its former glory nearly a century after it was first unveiled.

Work on Llanbadarn Fawr’s war memorial, which holds pride of place on the village square, had to be delayed due Covid-19 – but the transformation has been completed in good time for Remembrance Sunday.

Sadly a planned wreath-laying ceremony at the memorial will not go ahead, due to the pandemic.

Llanbadarn Fawr Community Council engaged stone specialists M S Group, from Cardiff, to undertake the essential repairs to the memorial, as well as cleaning the granite and repainting the memorial texts and names on the stone.

The heavy chains surrounding the memorial have also been cleaned, repaired and repainted by Hyfforddiant Ceredigion, who have also restored the missing sections.

The council had initially hoped the work would be completed by VE Day, but unfortunately this had to be delayed due to the Covid-19 lockdown.

But the work was finally completed in early September.

Llanbadarn councillor and chairman Linda Keeler said: “Llanbadarn’s community councillors are very grateful to M S Group’s stonemasons and to Hyfforddiant Ceredigion for their careful and thorough work.

“The memorial was unveiled in January 1921 and it is good to see it in such good condition nearly a century later.”

Cllr Keeler added: “Normally, Llanbadarn Fawr and Faenor community councils work jointly with the vicar to organise the annual service of Remembrance at St Padarn’s Church, which is then followed by a procession to the square for a wreath-laying ceremony at the memorial.

“Sadly, this even cannot be held this year. However, a representative from each of the two councils will be laying wreaths at the foot of the memorial and it is hoped that other local organisations and residents will do the same in the days before and after Remembrance Sunday, which falls on 8 November this year.”