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During the two World Wars over 400 men and women from
the Randalstown district volunteered for service-more than
80 paid the supreme price.

Until the year 2000 the Town had not got a Memorial to
attest and respect this courage. However the Branch
Secretary Mr Robin Murray was determined to put this right
and with great vision saw the potential of a of piece of
waste ground beside the Old Congregational Church.

Such was his drive and enthusiasm that soon the Branch warmed to the idea and it expanded
from a Memorial to a Memorial Garden which would provide the entire community with a
peaceful place for memories and reflection.

Late in 1998, the piece of ground was obtained and an additional area was donated by a local
firm of building contractors, plans were prepared and planning permission passed, now the
problem was one of finance. The estimate of the total cost of the project was in excess of
Ł37,000 and as the Branch had no funds-it would have been easy to call off the entire thing at
this stage.

Instead, a fund-raising committee, under the industrious chairmanship of Dr John Stewart, was
set up in the Spring of 1999 and very quickly began the task of raising the amount required.

Early in 2000 the firm of Ivan Rowe contracts carried out the difficult work of securing the
walls of the stream which runs through the site and the Garden progressed steadily from then.

The Chairman of the Branch, Mr Willie Simpson, was delighted with the work of a small group
of dedicated Members who have voluntarily given countless hours of labour on the site-their
energy and efforts has saved the Branch literally thousands of pounds and has made it
possible to afford to employ the expertise of local craftsmen to manufacture the galvanised
bridge( G. T. Engineering), lay the paved walkway( Jeremy Graham & Sons) and build the
superb Memorial ( Dolmen Stoneworks).

Fund-raising was so successful that our target was met. This was achieved by the generous
support of the Branch Members, both by donations and by fund-raising events, together with
the many contributions from friends across N. Ireland and as far away as U.S.A.