Push for large-scale Wilfred Owen tribute in his hometown of Oswestry
A new sculpture could be erected to commemorate Shropshire war poet Wilfred Owen in his home town.
Owen was born in Plas Wilmot, Oswestry, in 1893 and became renowned for his war poems describing the horrors of battle.
A group of artists is now hoping to build a large-scale memorial to Owen in the town's Cae Glas Park, as a tribute to Owen and a way of attracting tourists.
The idea for the sculpture came from Qube Arts and The Best Of Oswestry, which would like to see the town make more of its connections to the soldier poet.
Artists Ron Ward and Julie Edwards, from Planet Art, were chosen from 31 proposals submitted to Qube Arts as the preferred idea for a memorial sculpture.
In his proposal Mr Ward said: "The proposal is to remove the dying hedge which runs the width of the park, situated just behind the gun as you go in through the main gates, and in its place build a 'whispering wall' which depicts Wilfred Owen's life and poems. The idea is in its early stages and a consultation period will be needed to establish the public's preferences in terms of design, location and materials used."
The proposal has been presented to Oswestry Town Council. Town mayor Peter Cherrington said: "We felt that the sculpture is an excellent idea which could have a positive impact on tourism.
"Any final plans will have to be given approval by the council, but the location has been agreed in principle."
The costs would be covered by Qube Arts. John Waine, from The Best Of Oswestry, said the town should be making more of its connections with Owen, following the example of Ors, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France, where Owen died on November 3, 1918.
The poet spent his last night in the Forester's House in the army camp, holed up in the cellar.
The next morning he and his fellow soldiers made their way to the Sambre Canal in the village. Trying to cross the canal they came under fire and Owen was killed, seven days before Armistice Day.
The Forester's House has since been turned into a memorial. Another memorial has been put up by the road bridge near the canal where he died, inscribed with a quotation from the sonnet 'With an Identity Disc', written by Owen in 1917.
