Hungerford twinning sundial to be replaced at last

A GIFT from Hungerford's French twin town, which was smashed by contractors, is finally being replaced.

In 2017, the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) angered Hungerford Twinning Association after its contractors broke a sundial gifted to the town by the mayor of Ligueil – then initially refused to pay for it.

The sundial had been a feature on the wall of the town's fire station for a decade.

When the new tri-station was built, there was reportedly an agreement that the sundial would be carefully removed and then replaced.

Authorities stressed at the time that the new building would be a community hub – but permission to keep the sundial in its prominent position was nevertheless refused.

Town councillors at the time were taken aback on being told that the RBFRS considered that it no longer fitted with its corporate image.

Then came the bombshell: despite arrangements for the sundial to be carefully removed, it was found broken in two and apparently discarded beneath a pile of rubble.

Two years later, the twinning association's Penny Brookman reported to the town council: "For all this time we were assured it would be replaced.

"Then everything changed – instead of talking about repairing or replacing the sundial, they said: ‘It’s not our problem.’

"Having waited all this time, that was a shock."

Meanwhile, a stonemason had said the ornament was beyond repair and a replacement would cost £3,540.

At the time, town councillors expressed astonishment that neither RBFRS nor its contractors considered they had an obligation to make good the damage.

The town council agreed that, if the cash could be raised to replace it, the new sundial could be placed on the Hungerford Hub at the library building.

Meanwhile, the twinning association has asked supporters to put pressure on RBFRS to pay up.

District councillor Dennis Benneyworth (Con, Hungerford and Kintbury) volunteered to raise the matter with RBFRS and said he would report back.

Now, finally, a replacement – funded by the RBFRS – has been completed.

Hungerford Twinning Association sundial sub committee member Paul Cable said this week: "You may recall the challenges Hungerford faced a couple of years ago following the refurbishment of Hungerford Fire Station and the subsequent damage to the sundial, a gift from our twin town, that was mounted on the face of the fire station.

"The RBFRS funded the creation of a replacement sundial which is to be mounted on the face of Hungerford Library and unveiled on Sunday, May 29.

"This will conclude a successful outcome especially as the mayor of Ligueil, our twin town, will be in Hungerford for the jubilee celebrations."

The new sundial will be unveiled at a ceremony at 10.30am.