The new memorial to the Cambridgeshire and Anglian Regiments is unveiled. Next to the war memorial in Whittlesey. Picture Steve Williams

A UNIQUE memorial to honour the fallen from the Cambridgeshire Regiment and the Royal Anglian Regiment was unveiled at a moving ceremony in Whittlesey this morning.

The new memorial to the Cambridgeshire and Anglian Regiments is unveiled. Next to the war memorial in Whittlesey. Picture Steve Williams

Queen Street was closed to traffic and shoppers stopped to observe a minute’s silence as veterans and dignitaries gathered at the war memorial to see the plinth dedicated.

It was Pop Whitwell, secretary of the Whittlesey and Peterborough branch of the Cambridgeshire Regiment Association who masterminded the plan to get the £500 memorial installed.

Pop said: “I am retiring as secretary this year, and I felt it was appropriate to have this memorial erected in Whittlesey before the end of my office. It remembers soldiers lost in all conflicts, the Royal Anglians are still out in Afghanistan.”

The plinth was unveiled by Deputy Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire, Freddie Grounds, who is president of the Cambridgeshire Regiment Association.

The new memorial to the Cambridgeshire and Anglian Regiments is unveiled. Next to the war memorial in Whittlesey. Picture Steve Williams

He told the crowd: “As a result of a thoroughly thoughtful initiative by Pop Whitwell, together with members of the Whittlesey and Peterborough branch of the Royal Anglian Regiment and the people of Whittlesey, we are here to witness the unveiling and dedication of this plaque. It will for all time remind us of the brave and selfless men and women of Her Majesty’s armed forces who have given their lives. I congratulate the branch.”

Councillor Derek Stebbing, a member of the old comrades association, as well as Fenland District Council and Whittlesey Town Council, said: “To get the memorial installed, we have been helped by a donation from the leader of Fenland District Council, Councillor Alan Melton. We are grateful for the help we received from the district and county councils.

“This is a unique memorial, the only one of its kind in Cambridgeshire, and we are proud to have it in Whittlesey.”

Captain Mark Brazier of the Royal Anglian Regiment added: “I have soldiers from my company currently deployed in Afghanistan and they will very much appreciate the gesture of this memorial.”

The new memorial to the Cambridgeshire and Anglian Regiments is unveiled. Next to the war memorial in Whittlesey. Picture Steve Williams

Other guests at the unveiling ceremony were deputy lord lieutenants, Colonel Derek Bristow and Colonel Colin Elsden; the deputy mayor of Whittlesey, Councillor Martin Curtis; and the Mayor and Mayoress of Peterborough, George and Sylvia Simons.