A MEMORIAL to honour Quinton’s war dead from all conflicts has been unveiled and blessed at a special ceremony.

The monument in Quinton Recreational Ground is the first generic memorial to commemorate local people who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Six standard bearers, a bugler and schoolchildren were among those who gathered for the service on Tuesday.

Quinton Local History Society chairman Bernard Taylor, who spearheaded the bid for the memorial, said it was a “lovely service”.

Around 70 people attended as Rev Jenny Arnold, Rector of Christ Church, blessed the engraved black marble memorial.

Thirty children from Quinton Church Primary School laid wooden crosses around it and a minute’s silence was held.

“The service was quite poignant, simple and succinct,” said Mr Taylor.

He said the memorial was possible thanks to a £2,000 community chest grant from the Quinton ward councillors and the memorial will become a focus for commemorations such as Remembrance Sunday.

It is located in front of the Lebanese Cedar tree which commemorates the centenary celebrations of Quinton’s Annexation to Birmingham.

Quinton Church Primary School pupils James Chapman and Olivia Brassington , both aged 11, lay crosses at the new war memorial.