The crowds gathered in Cae Glas Park this morning to see the unveiling of a new Wilfred Owen statue.

The ceremony was officially opened by Oswestry Town Mayor, Councillor Sandy Best who thanked statue artist Tim Turner, Wilfred Owen Festival director Chris Woods and the makers of the statue, Castle Fine Arts Foundry in Llanrhaeadr Ym Mochnant.

"We find Oswestry at the centre of local and national interest as we provide a permanent reminder for future generations of the local world wide person of renown whose poems contain some of the most prominent English poetry of the First World War," Cllr Best said.

"Many individuals, groups, schools and organisations have come together to support the festival and the commemoration of the life and work of Wilfred Owen."

The statue depicts Owen, dressed in his army uniform, surrounded by poems written by children from schools across the area.

The plinth on which the statue stands also has the words "He's come home" inscribed on the back, a quote from the soldier's late nephew Peter Owen, who died earlier this year.

This is the only life-size statue in the country dedicated to the war poet, who was born at Plas Wilmot, Weston Lane.

After soprano Natasha Day performed Written in a Wood, an adaptation of the 1910 Owen poem and Thoren Ferguson performed The Somme on the Wilfred Owen Violin, the statue was unveiled by Cllr Best and the Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire, Sir Algernon Heber-Percy.

"It's an absolute triumph," said Sir Heber-Percy.

"It's just about perfect I think. The fact it's been designed and crafted by local artists just proves we have such huge talents nearby.

"It's the perfect tribute to north Shropshire."

The ceremony was finished with a reading by Dave Andrews of Anthem for Doomed Youth, followed by the Last Post.

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