Adam Lowe, former Mayor of Oakham and current clerk of Uppingham Town Council, has shared with Oakham Nub News that Oakham War Memorial has been cleared ahead of the VE Day and VJ Day 80th Anniversaries. 

Lowe said: "In preparation for the VE80 & VJ80 the Oakham Memorial Institute are pleased to advise that the Oakham War Memorial has been cleaned by a qualified monument management business.  

"Initially the OMI sent a grant request to Oakham Town Council, however due to misinformation presented by a Councillor at the meeting the Town Council chose not to fund the work. 

"The OMI, considering that this year marks the 80th anniversary and commemoration associated with VE and VJ day and having received messages from families connected to names on the monument being unreadable, we chose to use OMI funds of £2200 needed to bring this memorial, to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, back to a standard where their names can again be seen and read aloud, at the going of the sun and in the morning we will remember them." 

In response to Lowe's criticism of Oakham Town Council, the current Mayor of Oakham Paul Ainsley said: "Oakham Town Council had initially included the cleaning of the monument in our general maintenance programme. However, it is truly delightful news that OMI have generously undertaken this task themselves. Thanks to their efforts, the Oakham War Memorial will be in pristine condition, perfectly prepared to commemorate the upcoming 80th anniversaries of VE and VJ Day." 

Organisers are currently working hard on plans for this year's VE Day to mark the 80th Anniversary and Oakham Nub News will be sharing updates on the run up to the date.