A STRIKING, giant mural of a First World War soldier on the side of a village hall will not only keep alive the memory of those who made the supreme sacrifice.

It is hoped that it will also enable people to remember the reason that Broadwell Memorial Hall was built in the first place.

The mural, which also features the names in individual poppies of each of the men from the village who died in the two world wars, was painted by Forest artist Tom Cousins.

It was dedicated by Rt Rev Robert Springett, the Bishop of Tewkesbury, on Sunday afternoon (September 9).

The hall has been rejuvenated since a new committee took over in 2013, but it seemed many in the village had forgotten the purpose of the hall.

Committee member Dee Jenkins said: “So many people said: ‘What memorial hall?’ They had forgotten.

“It was a quiet, forgotten building, crumbling away slowly, so we said when we do the outside we will put a giant soldier on it so that nobody ever forgets the Broadwell Memorial Hall.”

The hall was built in 1921 on ground owned by Mr Amos Brown, the owner of Wynols House, but by the early 2000s the building had fallen into a a poor state of repair. It has been turned around since the new committee took over and is now a venue for many community events.

Bishop Robert said: “I always find war memorials intensely moving, reading the names and remembering the humanity of each individual – somebody who was flesh and blood like you and I.

“They had a whole life and that life was taken away suddenly.

“You have several where there are two young people from the same family and there are connections with the Second World War where you have the same names.

“It is appropriate this mural is on the side of this hall which is in their memory, but it is also a hall that is also dedicated to the whole community without exception.”

The mural was painted over the summer by Mr Cousins who said many people approached him, clearly moved by the artwork.

He said: “A lot of people came up and they were moved by the memorial imagery.”