A DISTINCTIVE wooden plaque recording the names of men from an east Cleveland village who lost their lives during the First World War is to be refurbished to ensure future generations will be able to pay their respects.

The plaque is mounted in the entrance hall of the North Skelton Village Hall, which is on the site of the old Village Institute where many of those named on the plaque first volunteered for the armed forces.

The memorial was originally mounted in the old Stanghow Lane School and was moved to the present site when the school closed.

The key person behind the the bid to restore the plaque is North Skelton Parish Councillor Margaret Briggs who herself had experienced family tragedy as a result of war. She, and her brother John Owens, lost their father, 23-year-old driver, John Henry Owens of the Royal Signal Regiment in fighting at Alexandria during the Second World War Desert Campaign.

The councillor, who was only 14 months old at that time and had been named by her father, said: "I felt the restoration of this plaque was an act of homage to our father and to all those from North Skelton and the surrounding area who gave their life for all of us in this country - including those still to be born.

“It is unusual in that it is a work of art rather than a stone plinth, and because of this, it is more exposed to ageing.”

The restoration work, which will be paid for by donations from local landowners, the Wharton estates and form charitable trusts accessed by the Parish Council, will be done by Harrogate based Fine Art Restorer David Everingham.