Teens join in war of words over 'lack of respect' for Derby war memorial
TEENAGERS have answered their critics after months of complaints that the way they treat Derby's war memorial shows a lack of respect.
They have written to the Evening Telegraph to give their side of the story, saying they are sick of being told to stop sitting on the monument and sick of accusations that they use it as a skate ramp.
They say there is a shortage of places for them to sit in the Market Place and not any lack of respect.
But veterans say youths who shouted during last week's Merchant Navy Day ceremony prove otherwise and have called for new measures to protect the monument.
Among those who wrote to the Evening Telegraph was 16-year-old Joshua Elyard, who often sits on the memorial steps with his friends.
Joshua said: "The media promotes stereotypes of the youths of Derby when we show equal respect to the monument as the older generation.
"If someone wants to come and look at the words or wreaths on the memorial, we will move out of the way. We are always courteous to people who come to see it."
Last month, Derby City Council spent £20,000 putting studs on the memorial in a bid to deter people from sitting there but Joshua said this was a waste of money.
Instead, he agreed with Derby's veterans that an ornamental fence should be built around the monument.
If this went ahead, Joshua said, the council should provide more seating in the Market Place.
His claim was made despite three benches having been put in the Market Place recently in honour of soldier Thomas Wright, who died in Afghanistan last year.
Joshua said: "Those benches are too close to the Quad, so you can't see the Big Screen from them. What's the point in spending so much money on the screen if you can't sit and look at it?
"Also, the new benches are often full. It would be better if they put a row of benches nearer the war memorial."
Another teenager who e-mailed the Telegraph, identifying herself as Beth, agreed with Joshua and said there was a lack of facilities elsewhere in the city centre.
She wrote: "There is no other place like the Market Square where we can all just relax and have a good time and there are no skate ramps nearby for skaters –not that I use the memorial as a skate ramp.
"Personally, I just think that the council do not consider us at all when they do these things and spending that amount of people's taxes on disgusting studs is a disgrace."
In June last year, the Evening Telegraph launched its Show Some Respect campaign, urging the council to do more to protect the memorial.
Among veterans who backed the call was the chairman of Derby and District Ex-Services Association, Gordon Bannister. He agreed that the Market Place needed more seating.
But he said youths sitting on the memorial were not showing respect for servicemen.
He cited events during the Merchant Navy Day ceremony as proof. He said: "During the ceremony, we laid wreaths at the site. It was very solemn but some of the teenagers who would usually sit there made a lot of noise.
"I don't think they actually want to sit on the monument. It's just bravado because there's been all this fuss about it.
"If they were telling the truth about respect, I'd sympathise with them because I don't think there are enough benches. But I don't believe them."
Mr Bannister said he wanted an ornamental fence around the monument instead of the studs. He suggested signs could help in the interim.
He said: "On Harrogate's war memorial, they have plaques with words in English and French saying: 'Please respect this memorial as it is dedicated to the people who gave their lives for the freedom of this country'."
The memorial was built on the Market Place in 1923 and moved to its present position in 1994. Put up to commemorate the First World War fallen, it now also commemorates those killed in the Second World War and more recent conflicts.
Council leader Hilary Jones was not available to comment.
32 Comments
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by Mark, Derby
Tuesday, September 09 2008, 10:50AM
“Not all teenagers defile theWar Memorial, in fact many have friends and peers serving in the forces and fully understand what it stands for. Many of those who disrespect the War Memorial are grown adults (I use that phrase with some caveats) who should know better than to throw litter around the area of the Memorial. I have no problem with anyone sitting on the steps, in fact I actually think that in a rare moment of lucidity, some of the ne'er do wells might even contemplate a little more than their own navel when doing so. It's the scrotes who abuse everything that stands for conformity who are the problem, not your average teenager, that cause these problems. Give them a short sharp introduction into the kid of suffering that the Veterans of Derby have endure, perhaps that might focus their minds a little?”
by Sheila, Derby
Monday, September 08 2008, 2:46PM
“Surely the wars were fought for freedom from oppression and dictatorship? Lets all take a minute to remember this before we dictate to and chastise our young people...
The memorial is not being disrespected by young people sitting around it, however if feeling is THAT strong, the council should be providing more seating...three benches is hardly going to meet the need. I have often wanted to sit in the Market place and eat a sandwich or read the paper, however there has not been anywhere to sit. As stated earlier, why spend £100,000 on a big screen and not provide somewhere to sit. As usual this comes down to our council wasting resources instead of providing for the community.”
by matt, derby
Monday, September 08 2008, 2:27PM
“i must also make reference to another article as it mentioned the 16 year olds signing up to the army and I must say that a large percent of my friends are now recruited to the army something that come next year i may well be doing to persue being a medic within the armed forces”
by matt, derby
Monday, September 08 2008, 2:17PM
“I agree that a low fence would be better than those balls by far and they could also put a gate on it so people that wish to go in and place flowers and such things may do so.”
by Jay, Derby
Monday, September 08 2008, 2:15PM
“Yes because youngsters pay for nothing do they?
i've got to disagree that people sitting on the war memorial is an act of rebellious bravado. The people i've seen sitting on the memorial have never been abussive or threatening in ny way, and i've never witnessedany vandalising going on there.
Anywhere where there is some kind of structure in a populated place there will be people sitting or lying on it. if the council don't want this to happen then fence it off.”
by frank, littleover
Monday, September 08 2008, 2:11PM
“How about a fence around memorial, but with seats in front as well.
It's only a few teens that cause problems, not all of them!”
by matt, derby
Monday, September 08 2008, 2:06PM
“i'm presuming that was a reference to stealing therefore we should pay for something yet again if we were to go to places like pride park or a theatre/ play room that would also mean we would not be able to talk whilst the match or production is and we also already do things like that but we struggle to pay for things like that because we may make efforts to get jobs but they prefer to hire adults over kids. like I have said I work and do try but then again I'm 15 so I'm not going to live a high life and afford to go out every weekend to indoor places but somewhere such as the city centre is a central place for all to meet”
by graham, chaddesden
Monday, September 08 2008, 1:57PM
“Whenever I have visited public spaces it has always amazed me that youngsters, despite the provision of adequate and plentiful seating, choose to sit and chat on the floor. I have always seen this as a bit of rebellious bravado, you know, 'look at me how different I am' etc etc, I think the sitting on the steps of the War Memorial is much the same thing. If it was a couple of benches they would be sitting on the floor!! It is very easy to be full of bravado when you know there will be no consequence for it. I personally am quite fed up with hearing how little there is for youngsters.”
by John, Derby
Monday, September 08 2008, 1:49PM
“After reading all of the comments here, I can only assume that this isn't about respect or lack of it. It seems totally about the lack of seating on the market place. The usual gripes about Derby's lacklustre city centre. If these youngsters need to congregate then why can't they congregate somewhere where there is enough seating for them? Pride Park Stadium has plenty of seats available as does the Playhouse Theatre and Assembly Rooms. Oh silly me I forgot,,,,,that would mean actually paying for something wouldn't it.”
by B3Evil, Derby
Monday, September 08 2008, 1:43PM
“This bugs me. I'm not a teenager, but sitting on the memorial does not show a lack of respect.
Look over to the continent, people sit on and around memorials all the time, in peace.
Who decided this was disrespectful, and why? This country is becoming shambolic with 'political correctness' and regulation over everything.”