Vauxhall Motors War Memorial
Ron Burnham and Alan Oliver
Remembrance Service - November 12 2023
25 people attended the service held at the Vauxhall War Memorial in Kimpton Road which was conducted by the Vauxhall Chaplain, Reverend David Alexander.
Wreaths from IBC, Vauxhall and the VPA were laid and Alan Oliver
and Bill Saul read out the names of a selection of those on the inscription.
Remembrance Service – November 13, 2022
Despite being a very foggy, damp and cold morning the Remembrance Service took place on Sunday, November 13 commencing at 8:30 am at the Kimpton Road War Memorial.
Three wreaths were laid, one each from the Company, Unite Trade Union and VPA.
The Reverend David Alexander took the service and this year two buglers performed the Last Post.
Despite being a very foggy, damp and cold morning the Remembrance Service took place on Sunday, November 13 commencing at 8:30 am at the Kimpton Road War Memorial.
Three wreaths were laid, one each from the Company, Unite Trade Union and VPA.
The Reverend David Alexander took the service and this year two buglers performed the Last Post.
November 14th 2021
Remembrance Service - November 14 2021
The service started at 08:30 am and was conducted by the Reverend David Alexander, the vicar of Stopsley Parish and the Vauxhall Chaplain.
The site developers (responsible for the upkeep of the memorial) were represented by Michael Bonner (Building Manager) and Monika Vysniauske (Front of House Manager). Vauxhall management was represented by Colin MacDonald (Luton Plant Director) and Justin Hawkins (PR Manager).
Also present were John Fulcher (VPA Vice President), Les and Brenda Potter, Dick and Linda Mumford, Norman and Susan McGregor, Dave Linney, Gordon Salton, Chris and Pauline Cleary, Jean Skipp and Bill and Irene Saul. The service went off very well and the facelifted memorial looked excellent, both sides of the site being embellished with a fine planted area.
Sufficient to say that the whole occasion went off very well and provided a fitting tribute to the Vauxhall personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
The service started at 08:30 am and was conducted by the Reverend David Alexander, the vicar of Stopsley Parish and the Vauxhall Chaplain.
The site developers (responsible for the upkeep of the memorial) were represented by Michael Bonner (Building Manager) and Monika Vysniauske (Front of House Manager). Vauxhall management was represented by Colin MacDonald (Luton Plant Director) and Justin Hawkins (PR Manager).
Also present were John Fulcher (VPA Vice President), Les and Brenda Potter, Dick and Linda Mumford, Norman and Susan McGregor, Dave Linney, Gordon Salton, Chris and Pauline Cleary, Jean Skipp and Bill and Irene Saul. The service went off very well and the facelifted memorial looked excellent, both sides of the site being embellished with a fine planted area.
Sufficient to say that the whole occasion went off very well and provided a fitting tribute to the Vauxhall personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
The Mayor of Luton cutting the ribbon
Official Unveiling of the refurbished War Memorial June 2022
The official unveiling of the newly restored War Memorial in Kimpton Road took place on Thursday, June 30. It was very well attended so ‘thank you’ to those who turned up to support the occasion.
Strawberry Star, the developers of the area in Kimpton Road where the memorial is located and who are now the custodian of the structure, were represented by a number of senior executives and the memorial had been appropriately adorned with a white garland above the plaques, a very large white floral display on each side of the rear wall, plus a number of large candles in glass containers close to the side walls.
The service began with a few words from Mike Vos and Steven Beveridge of Strawberry Star prior to the cutting of the red ribbon by the Mayor of Luton, Councillor Sameera Saleem. Mike Roberts, former Chairman of the VPA, then said a few words on behalf of Vauxhall and the VPA.
The Reverend David Alexander, Vicar of St Thomas’s Church/Vauxhall Industrial Chaplain, closed the service with a prayer. All those in attendance were then invited to join Strawberry Star for refreshments in their Concierge area.
The official unveiling of the newly restored War Memorial in Kimpton Road took place on Thursday, June 30. It was very well attended so ‘thank you’ to those who turned up to support the occasion.
Strawberry Star, the developers of the area in Kimpton Road where the memorial is located and who are now the custodian of the structure, were represented by a number of senior executives and the memorial had been appropriately adorned with a white garland above the plaques, a very large white floral display on each side of the rear wall, plus a number of large candles in glass containers close to the side walls.
The service began with a few words from Mike Vos and Steven Beveridge of Strawberry Star prior to the cutting of the red ribbon by the Mayor of Luton, Councillor Sameera Saleem. Mike Roberts, former Chairman of the VPA, then said a few words on behalf of Vauxhall and the VPA.
The Reverend David Alexander, Vicar of St Thomas’s Church/Vauxhall Industrial Chaplain, closed the service with a prayer. All those in attendance were then invited to join Strawberry Star for refreshments in their Concierge area.
Vauxhall War Memorial, Kimpton Road, Luton
We thought you would like to see before and after photos of the Vauxhall War Memorial which was recently restored. What a good job the company who Strawberry Star employed did of the plaques.
We thought you would like to see before and after photos of the Vauxhall War Memorial which was recently restored. What a good job the company who Strawberry Star employed did of the plaques.
October 2021
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November 2021
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Main Canteen, Kimpton Road
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Relocation 1992
The future enhanced site
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The War Memorial was originally located on the exterior wall of the Main Canteen in Kimpton Road. Unfortunately, we are unable to trace any information on when the plaques were first erected, but it is believed to be sometime between 1947 and 1950.
Following the demolition of the Main Canteen the Memorial was re-sited to its current position on Kimpton Road in November 1992.
The memorial consists of three plaques. The smaller central plague shows the names of 23 Vauxhall employees who lost their lives during the First World War (1914 – 1918). The two larger plaques detail the names of 193 employees who lost their lives during the Second World War (1938 – 1945). The Vauxhall factory was a target for enemy bombing as it played a prominent role in the British efforts during the Second World War. The Memorial lists the names of 39 workers, killed by a bombing raid on Friday, 30 August 1940. As many as 59 bombs fell on the factory, killing the 39 and injuring 40 more.
Following the closure of the Vauxhall Plant in March 2002 and the complete demolition of the factory, the land to the rear of the War Memorial was eventually purchased by the Strawberry Star Group for development. Strawberry Star unveiled plans to preserve the historic War Memorial and create an enhanced setting for the heritage asset. All three plaques will be restored by Strawberry Star when all building works are finalised. An artist’s impression of exactly what the Memorial will look like on completion of building works to the rear of the monument is shown above.
Remembrance Day services take place every Armistice Day at the Memorial. The date this year is November 14th 2021.
Following the demolition of the Main Canteen the Memorial was re-sited to its current position on Kimpton Road in November 1992.
The memorial consists of three plaques. The smaller central plague shows the names of 23 Vauxhall employees who lost their lives during the First World War (1914 – 1918). The two larger plaques detail the names of 193 employees who lost their lives during the Second World War (1938 – 1945). The Vauxhall factory was a target for enemy bombing as it played a prominent role in the British efforts during the Second World War. The Memorial lists the names of 39 workers, killed by a bombing raid on Friday, 30 August 1940. As many as 59 bombs fell on the factory, killing the 39 and injuring 40 more.
Following the closure of the Vauxhall Plant in March 2002 and the complete demolition of the factory, the land to the rear of the War Memorial was eventually purchased by the Strawberry Star Group for development. Strawberry Star unveiled plans to preserve the historic War Memorial and create an enhanced setting for the heritage asset. All three plaques will be restored by Strawberry Star when all building works are finalised. An artist’s impression of exactly what the Memorial will look like on completion of building works to the rear of the monument is shown above.
Remembrance Day services take place every Armistice Day at the Memorial. The date this year is November 14th 2021.
