FIVE students from Wyre Forest have breathed new life into the First World War commemorative plaque at Worcestershire County Cricket Club.

The Stourport High School pupils “lovingly restored” the memorial, which lists the player-members who gave their lives during the conflict, in time for a re-dedication event last Sunday.

Rev Michael Vockins led the special service and blessed the plaque in its new location in the Graeme Hick Pavilion foyer, while an additional memorial detailing the club’s other fallen war heroes was also revealed.

Meriel Harris, a board member at Worcestershire County Cricket Club, said: "It is only relatively recently that we've been able to assess where some of these reminders of our history should be displayed.

"One particular item was the club's original memorial detailing 17 members who gave their lives in the Great War.

"This is a beautifully crafted item, which used to hang above the bar in the old pavilion.

"However, I suspect the years of smoking members standing below it while waiting patiently for their pint to be pulled had resulted in it becoming heavily blackened and almost impossible to read.

"But it has been restored to its original condition by the students at Stourport High School, who have done a fantastic job.

"In addition it was decided to have a second memorial to include players whose names were omitted from the first memorial plus those who gave their lives in World War Two."

Mr Vockins added: "It is very poignant to remember the group of players who gave their lives in 1914 to 1918 to secure a better world for the rest of us.

"It is sad that it conjures up the memory of young men and actually some that were not so young - the first one who died was a chap called Nesbitt at the age of 43.”