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In pictures | Contractor’s staff volunteer to restore Spitfire memorial
Cristina Lago Deputy Editor
WJ Group volunteers removed around 4 tonnes of overgrowth from the edges of the memorial (Image: WJ Group)
Employees from road marking contractor WJ Group volunteered to clean and refurbish the Reginald Mitchell Way Spitfire and Walrus seaplane displays in Stoke-on-Trent.
The displays were designed in 1996 by artist Magnus Irvin to celebrate British aircraft designer Reginald Mitchell’s contribution to development of the Supermarine Spitfire and Walrus seaplane, which were both used during the Second World War.
The project on Reginald Mitchell Way took a week to complete (Image: WJ Group)
Cracks had started to develop on the surface of the monuments and the paint was fading due to their continuous exposure to elements.
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The initiative was spearheaded by local employee and WJ contract supervisor Damian West. His team requested permission from the council to renovate the installations, which was granted.
Volunteers used a high-powered push-along pressure washer to remove any built-up grime (Image: WJ Group)
The team removed approximately 4 tonnes of overgrowth from the edges of the display over one week. For this, it used a high-powered push-along pressure washer to remove built-up grime. After repairing the cracks in the surface, specialist paint was used on the letters and symbols to brighten the artwork.
Since their unveiling in 1996, the Spitfire and Walrus monuments had started to become overgrown (Image: WJ Group)
WJ Group said that its Thinking Community initiative allows staff to undertake charitable work like this while still being paid and receiving support from the company, such as funding or using its equipment and materials.
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