MEN and women from the Watermoor area of Cirencester who lost their life during the First World are to be commemorated with a permanent memorial in the community.

Members of the Watermoor Community Group are planning to paint the walls of a subway with a poppy scene that will also contain the name of every Watermoor resident who fell in the conflict.

Cllr Jenny Hincks, chairman of the group, said that the subway mural would be created by volunteers who live in the area.

“We’ve had a lot of people support this idea. Under every poppy that we paint, we will put the name of a Watermoor person who died,” she said.

“This will be our way of commemorating the start of the war. It will be nice to have this permanent tribute where people will be able to pay their respects.”

The group has enlisted the help of local historian Peter Grace, of the Living Memory Historical Association, to track down the names of all the Watermoor natives who died on the frontline.

So far, more than 75 names have been linked to the Watermoor area.

Cllr Hincks also said that there were plans to dedicate the new community garden in Watermoor Road to the victims of the First World War.

The new garden will be created as part of an ongoing project to rejuvenate the rundown area close to Watermoor Road’s several fast food restaurants.

Anyone who would like to get involved with any of the projects should contact Jenny Hincks on 01285 654984.