News
November 2008 - New product available
We now have a wide range of pet memorials available. If you have something in mind that is personal to you then let us know and we will do our best to provide you with it.
A neglected war memorial commemorating those who died in First World War I has been restored by a kindly stonemason.
The plaque, which stands outside the old Wells Road School for Boys in Knowle, lists the names of former students who were killed in the war.
It was rescued from the school hall by developers in 2001 when the building was turned into flats, but became so weather-worn that the names were illegible.
After an appeal in the Evening Post failed to find those responsible for the memorial, Paul James, who runs the Totterdown Stone Studio, came forward and offered to repair the plaque for free.
Mr James, who lives just 10 minutes from the old school in Knowle, took up his brushes after a Wells Road old boy, Alan Gwyther, asked for help.
A former pupil of the school himself, Mr James fixed the memorial as a tribute to the pupils who gave their lives in the war.
He said: "I walked up to the site when I read the story and just thought 'yes, it's got to be restored'.
"So I spoke to Alan and told him that I would put it right.
"Looking after the memory of these young men is just something that needed to be done. They went to the school and went off to do their bit for their country and never came back. I don't think that we should forget them.
"I went to the school myself with my four brothers, and if it wasn't for people like those boys who gave their lives we wouldn't be the way we are now. They really deserve our thanks."
He has re-painted the names, repaired the chipped slate slab the plaque is mounted on, and carved "Lest we forget" on the top.
"I feel pleased to be able to help in a small way. I wouldn't mind betting that the names on there are families that those of us who are from around here know," said Mr James.
Mr Gwyther, who was a pupil at the school in Maxse Road from 1944 to 1949, was delighted at the results.
He said: "I am absolutely over the moon, and I am very grateful to Paul for coming forward.
"He has his own business and didn't need to do it but he feels like me about the memorial.
"He said to me, 'I don't want any payment - those boys paid for it, as they did it for their country'.
"It's nice to know there are some good people out there."
The two men are now catching up on old times after finding out that they lived in roads next to each other when they were growing up.
Mr Gwyther said: "I left the school in 1949. Paul joined after that, so we didn't know each other at school. But I lived in the next road to him in Knowle - he was in Axbridge Road and I lived in Andover Road."
2007 – Local workshop aquired
2005 – Shop refurbishment complete and open to the public
154 Wells Road, Totterdown, Bristol BS4 2AG
Tel: 01179 714665 Mobile: 07810 524457
Email - enquiries@totterdownstonestudio.co.uk