Why Each Saltash Memorial Pebble Was Read Aloud by Name

One by one, the team lifted each painted pebble, spoke the name of the soldier it stands for, and placed it back into the ground.

The WWI Pebble Memorial in the Peace Garden on Alexandra Square, Saltash, has now been restored. The final stages of the work took place across May and June 2026, with an official unveiling ceremony still to come.

A memorial built from 141 small stones

The restoration came out of a collaborative project between Saltash Town Council and former members of the Saltash Great War Commemoration Committee (SGWCC), with the aim of preserving the memorial for many years to come.

There are 141 pebbles in all. One hundred and forty represent lives lost in the First World War, and a single pebble stands for those who remain unnamed. Each one was carefully removed in September 2025 by South West Surfacing Specialists.

A winter spent repainting

Every pebble was then repainted in its original design by local artist David Whittley, using professional paint chosen because it resists fading. That mattered. Many of the original pebbles had been decorated with materials that faded over the years.

The repainted stones are now as vibrant as they were when the memorial was first installed in 2018, and they sit beneath a UV-resistant coating meant to protect them against the weather for years to come.

Back in place, name by name

On 28 May 2026, South West Surfacing returned to resurface the memorial area and set every pebble back in its original position. Before placing each one down, the team read aloud the name of the fallen soldier it represents.

Those who came to watch included Mayor Cllr Brian Stoyel and Mayoress Maxine Stoyel, former Mayor Cllr Rachel Bullock, former SGWCC members Sue Hooper, Lynn Marsh and Tony Marsh, artist David Whittley, and the South West Surfacing Specialists team led by owner Wayne Hambly. Members of the public stopped by to see the work too.

The whole effort was carried out free of charge. As a small thank you, Brian Stoyel brought along pasties for the surfacing team.

A new plaque now sits beside the memorial. It records that the renovation and restoration were carried out by David Whittley and Wayne Hambly, together with his South West Surfacing team, during Autumn 2025 and Spring 2026 as their contribution to the Saltash community.

What the Mayor said

Brian Stoyel called it a real privilege to see the memorial so thoughtfully restored.

“Each of these small pebbles carries an incredible amount of significance, representing a life lost and a story that should never be forgotten,” he said. “It’s so important that we preserve memorials such as this, so future generations can learn about and reflect on our shared history. I’m very grateful to everyone who gave their time, skills and generosity to make this possible, and I do hope the team enjoyed their well-earned pasties.”