A WAR memorial hidden at a factory site since the end of the First World War is set to be unveiled in its new home this weekend.An oil-painted memorial for men who fought and were killed in the war is being officially unveiled at St Mary's Church, Bramford, at a remembrance service on Sunday.

A WAR memorial hidden at a factory site since the end of the First World War is set to be unveiled in its new home this weekend.

An oil-painted memorial for men who fought and were killed in the war is being officially unveiled at St Mary's Church, Bramford, at a remembrance service on Sunday.

The memorial was kept in the Bramford Works building, Paper Mill Lane, for 85 years, as it remembers men from the war who worked for Packard, which operated the factory at the time.

It remained at the site, well-known as the Fisons building, until it was recently sold for redevelopment.

It has now been given a new home at the church in Church Green where it can be shared by the public.

The wooden memorial is believed to have been painted by a daughter of Sir Edward Packard in memory of Packard employees who fought or were killed in the war.

It records the names of all the employees who fought, and has small oil portraits of men who died.

Canon Roger Dedman said: “We've had fun and games trying to decide where to put it in the church as it is absolutely huge.

“It's 5ft high and has two doors on it, which when open make it about 8ft wide.

“Now it's here we couldn't be happier and would invite everyone to join us on Sunday for the unveiling.”

Mervyn Russen, of St Leonards Road, Ipswich, worked at Fisons and was one of those responsible for moving the memorial.

He said: “Brian Bloomfield and I were both employed by Fisons for many years.

“When the Bramford works closed we felt very strongly that the memorial should be saved.”

Mr Russen helped move the memorial in June 2004, along with a small Second World War memorial. It was installed in the church during the summer.

The church will host the remembrance service, featuring the unveiling of the memorial, at 10.30am. The service will be given by Peter Packard, a descendant of Sir Edward Packard.

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