The crowning glory of a memorial in memory of four men from Stanton and Rickinghall who died in an industrial accident will be in place in the next few months.
An area in honour of brothers Thomas, 26, and Daniel Hazelton, 30, and their workmates Peter Johnson (PJ), 42, and Adam Taylor, 28, has taken shape in the car park of the Cock Inn in Stanton.
Generous donations of more than £35,000 were made to the Four Friends Memorial Fund, which was launched by the East Anglian Daily Times in liaison with the men’s families, for a permanent memorial.
The four men died in an industrial accident in Great Yarmouth in January 2011.
The memorial in Stanton includes four chairs featuring the men’s names, a picnic table with seats, a plinth with a plaque and a small sculpture on top and planters. A larger metal sculpture is hoped to be in place in the next few months.
Tom and Daniel’s mother Marilyn, 61, from Stanton, said: “We are on the last hurdle. It was emotional yesterday actually going in there. We will never forget about them.”
She added: “It really is a beautiful area.”
PJ’s sister Judi Freeman said: “I think it’s lovely, really lovely. It’s very tasteful. It’s not too in your face. It’s really nice.”
The families wanted to thank everyone who had donated, and Mrs Freeman also said they wanted to apologise for the memorial taking so long.
“And thanks to Chris and Nigel [from the Cock Inn] for letting us have the land,” she said.
The Four Friends Memorial Fund has also paid for a memorial in Rickinghall in the form of two benches, a plaque and tree.
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