The second phase of Ramsey town centre’s regeneration scheme – the Courthouse gardens and the adjacent pedestrian and vehicle areas – has earned praise from the Preservation of War Memorials committee.

In a letter to Ramsey town clerk Peter Whiteway committee member Hector Duff expressed his pleasure with the project, in particular the sensitive manner in which the war memorial had been incorporated into the scheme. Congratulating the board of Ramsey Town Commissioners Mr Duff wrote: ‘The work is progressing fine and will be a great improvement to the area, but my most pleasing view was that the [war] memorial had not been forgotten, and I feel that now it will be the focal point of the area, and when the plan is completed…it will be a credit to your board.’

Mr Duff also complemented the board on the choice of paving material surrounding the war memorial and wrote that he proposed to send a photograph of the completed scheme to the Imperial War Museum in London. He closed with: ‘I am sure that those named on your memorial, who are so often called ‘The Glorious Dead’, will feel proud.’

Ramsey Town Commissioners’ chairman Captain Nigel Malpass said: ‘Mr Duff’s kind comments are most welcome and encouraging and we are pleased that he shares our belief that the Courthouse gardens will soon reclaim their place as the focal point of the town centre with the war memorial at its heart.’

Captain Malpass added:  ‘The regeneration works in this phase are now drawing to a successful close and while they may still be creating some minor disruption, this is far outweighed by the long-term benefits the improvements will bring to our town.’