A housing firm has promised to donate £10,000 every year for the repair and conservation of war memorials in this region.
Hopkins Homes marked the centenary of the fourth and penultimate year of the First World War by announcing the annual grant in Leiston.
The donation will form part of the recently expanded £500,000 Hopkins Charitable Fund and will be administered by the War Memorials Trust.
James Hopkins, executive chairman at Hopkins Homes, said: “Given the strong historical and present day military connections in the area, supporting the conservation of these important community focal points is a natural fit for the Hopkins Charitable Fund.”
Frances Moreton, director of the War Memorials Trust, said: “We were delighted when Hopkins Homes approached us to administer their generous donation for East Anglia.
“As the nation prepares to mark next year’s centenary [of the end of the First World War], we have seen a significant increase in the number of requests from communities hoping to repair and conserve their war memorials.
“The contribution from the Hopkins Charitable Fund will allow us to fund many more of these projects.”
The announcement came as the newly restored memorial to the 357th Fighter Group of the United States Army Air Force was rededicated in Leiston.
Conservation was carried out by Hopkins Homes after the firm was approached by the Friends of Leiston Airfield (FOLA).
The ceremony was attended by Joshua Hopkins, who recently joined the land team at the firm – started 20 years ago by his father, James.
He said: “Volunteers and charities do vital work in our communities and Hopkins Homes is proud to have able to help the Friends of Leiston Airfield with restoration of the memorial.
“We hope that the residents of Leiston and those visiting from the United States will be able to enjoy a quiet moment of reflection at the site of the memorial for many years to come.”
Hopkins Homes was involved in the decision to name streets at its Swanton Morley development, in Norfolk, after fallen members of the Light Dragoons.
Communities hoping to receive funding towards war memorial projects should visit warmemorials.org/grants.
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