A memorial to a Swindon police officer who helped to save countless lives has been refurbished.
The intricate designs can be appreciated once more
PC Richard Webb, who died on Christmas Eve, 1988, raised vital funds to bring a body scanner to the old Princess Margaret Hospital after being diagnosed with cancer.
He is credited with allowing Swindon to have a scanner long before it might otherwise have been possible.
A sundial erected in his memory in the Town Gardens Rose Garden in 1992 has been refurbished by South Swindon Parish Council.
It was unveiled by his widow, Lesley, and son Peter in a specially-arranged socially-distanced ceremony.
Peter read a speech on behalf of his mother, saying: "Richard would be honoured and would want to thank everybody who came together to make this happen.
"What he was part of in 1986 was not done for recognition or reward, but to repay our wonderful NHS staff for all their care and kindness, and for saving his life as so many are experiencing now during these very hard times.
"What makes the sundial even more special is the place it's in. The Town Gardens was one of Richard's favourite places, so we'd like to thank everybody involved in making this possible. Thank you."
PC Webb is remembered with affection and respect by the many people who knew him or took part in the fundraising. Lesley said: "I think his secret was that he treated everybody the same - the guys he worked with to the millionaires over the road."
The ceremony was attended by parish council chair Chris Watts and Old Town councillors Jane Milner-Barry and Neil Hopkins.
Coun Watts opened the ceremony, saying of the memorial: "it has been here since 1992, and unfortunately had lost its main part which a sundial needs, the top part.
"Our operatives really took it to heart that they wanted to get this done and do it properly. They took it apart, took it back to our depot, and they've done an absolutely fantastic job.
"We're really pleased today to be able to invite Lesley Webb and Peter Webb to be part of this unveiling, which we think is very important."
He revealed that when the repair and unveiling were announced on social media, there was an overwhelming response from people who remembered and admired PC Webb.
Coun Milner-Barry said: "I'm here to represent the people of Old Town, and especially those who remember PC Richard Webb and want to see his memory honoured.
"The memorial means a lot to Old Town and when it disappeared we got some very anxious queries about where it had gone and when it was coming back, so when it was set up again here I took a photo and put it on the Old Town Facebook page, and I was just amazed at the response we got.
"Somebody just said, 'A fitting memorial to a true Swindon hero.' But of course, as somebody else said, PC Webb's best memorial is the lives he helped to save."
He is credited with allowing Swindon to have a scanner long before it might otherwise have been possible.
A sundial erected in his memory in the Town Gardens Rose Garden in 1992 has been refurbished by South Swindon Parish Council.
It was unveiled by his widow, Lesley, and son Peter in a specially-arranged socially-distanced ceremony.
Peter read a speech on behalf of his mother, saying: "Richard would be honoured and would want to thank everybody who came together to make this happen.
"What he was part of in 1986 was not done for recognition or reward, but to repay our wonderful NHS staff for all their care and kindness, and for saving his life as so many are experiencing now during these very hard times.
"What makes the sundial even more special is the place it's in. The Town Gardens was one of Richard's favourite places, so we'd like to thank everybody involved in making this possible. Thank you."
PC Webb is remembered with affection and respect by the many people who knew him or took part in the fundraising. Lesley said: "I think his secret was that he treated everybody the same - the guys he worked with to the millionaires over the road."
The ceremony was attended by parish council chair Chris Watts and Old Town councillors Jane Milner-Barry and Neil Hopkins.
Coun Watts opened the ceremony, saying of the memorial: "it has been here since 1992, and unfortunately had lost its main part which a sundial needs, the top part.
"Our operatives really took it to heart that they wanted to get this done and do it properly. They took it apart, took it back to our depot, and they've done an absolutely fantastic job.
"We're really pleased today to be able to invite Lesley Webb and Peter Webb to be part of this unveiling, which we think is very important."
He revealed that when the repair and unveiling were announced on social media, there was an overwhelming response from people who remembered and admired PC Webb.
Coun Milner-Barry said: "I'm here to represent the people of Old Town, and especially those who remember PC Richard Webb and want to see his memory honoured.
"The memorial means a lot to Old Town and when it disappeared we got some very anxious queries about where it had gone and when it was coming back, so when it was set up again here I took a photo and put it on the Old Town Facebook page, and I was just amazed at the response we got.
"Somebody just said, 'A fitting memorial to a true Swindon hero.' But of course, as somebody else said, PC Webb's best memorial is the lives he helped to save."
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