Five members met at Tamworth Station, on a lovely sunny morning. We went across the road from the station, and caught the 11.30 bus (service NMA) direct to the Arboretum.

Admission to the vast site is free, although a donation is suggested. It covers an area of over 150 acres, and has over 420 Memorials nestled around the grounds. This year marks its 25th Anniversary since opening.

At reception Alan Spencer collected his mobile scooter (pre booked, for a fee). A 50 minute Land Train operates, with its pre-recorded commentary it would make a good introduction to the site.

Click images for an enlargement

As Alan’s father had been in Burma during the war, we went to the Burma/Far East section first. Included is a short section of track from the Burma Railway, along with the Sumatra Railway, and the Burma Star Memorial. A building here has the Far East P.O.W. Exhibition, telling the story of those interned during WW2.

Heading to the River Tame I came across the Railway Industry Memorial. A large model of an 2-8-0 Class 8F steam locomotive, carved matt black granite, stands on a plinth.

The Changi Lych Gate was built in 1942 by the Royal Engineers as the camp cemetery entrance. It was taken down when British service personal left Singapore in 1971, and has been restored here.

After looking at some other memorials, we then retreated to the Restaurant, for a good lunch!

Refreshed, we headed out to the large Armed Forces Memorial, situated on a six-metre high mound. A gold topped obelisk is at the far end. Two curved and two straight walls are on the top. On which the names of 16,000 service personal are engraved. They have lost their lives on duty since 1948, in conflicts around the world. Every Summer the names of those who have died in the past year are added, at a special service.

We then separated, not intentional, just different interests and walking paces. I went along Millennium Avenue, then going off leftward to see the South Atlantic Medal Association Memorial

The sun was shining just right through the Naval Service Memorial. 13 tall, coloured glass panels forming a shadow of a warship. And then along an area with several other Service and Merchant Navy memorials, trees and flowers.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution memorial features a statue of a lifeboat man on top of a rock, wearing the old-style wooden life jackets. A stoney beach with groynes partly surrounds the area.

Back to Millennium Avenue, where the Royal British Legion Poppy Memorial is situated.

Heading along this road, I viewed various memorials on the eastern side. These included the Royal Air Forces Association Remembrance Garden, with its large stainless steel eagle glinting in the sun.

At this end of Millennium Avenue is area which includes the Royal Engineers (RE) Memorial. Here four large granite rocks have been donated by the Falklands Islanders, and raised to appear floating above the ground!

A little more wandering, and then it was back to the main building to check out the shop and have a coffee.

It was good to see parties of schoolchildren going around.

I caught the 16.15 bus back to Tamworth; the rest of the group must have got the 15.15. It was an interesting day, a place I finally got to see. Best done on a sunny day! With so much more to see, I will be making another visit. Thank you to Alan Spencer for organising this visit