A service to unveil and dedicate the new War Memorial that stands proud on the grounds of Finchley Memorial Hospital took place on Sunday 26th September 2021.
The Bishop of London, The Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally DBE, led the service and the Governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, General Sir Adrian Bradshaw KCB OBE DL unveiled the memorial. During the service, Rabbi Pinchas Hackenbroch recited a memorial prayer; the cadets of 393 (Finchley) Squadron RAF Air Cadets read the poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ and Father Dermot O’Neill from St Alban’s Catholic Church gave the reading.
It was a friendly atmosphere where residents, Chelsea pensioners, hospital staff, NHS contractors and those who made this memorial happen, were able to celebrate that Finchley now has a place for families to pay their respects to those who lost their lives. North London Estate Partnerships were pleased to contribute towards the provision of refreshments at the event.
Until now, the names of those Finchley family members who had lost their lives in war, had not been acknowledged on a public memorial anywhere. The War Memorial now proudly has the sun shining on the significant grey granite wall with the gold leaf engraved names where they will be remembered.