RESIDENTS of Lytchett Matravers have had a historic stone plaque commemorating the coronation of King George VI reset, following a letter from the Queen.

The plaque was originally set at the base of a Cedar of Lebanon tree which was planted on May 12, 1937. However, the tree was uprooted in the storms of 2017 and fell onto the plaque, forcing it into the ground.

Lytchett Matravers resident Clive MacDonald was six and a half on the day the tree was planted. Now 88 years old, he recalls that, although it was a cold and rainy day, a large crowd of Lytchett Matravers residents attended the ceremony.

“I was taken there by my grandmother”, Clive said. “It was only a little village celebration and the Rector at the time, Rev. Swabey, arranged it all.”

In August last year, Clive MacDonald, along with another local man Melvyn Abbott, set about recovering the plaque.

“I remember we dug for three hours on what was one of the hottest days of the year. When we found it, it was cracked right in half.

A letter was sent to Her Majesty regarding the tree that was to be planted with the original plaque as well as a new plaque commemorating the Queen’s 65th anniversary as monarch.

In a letter penned by the Lady-in-Waiting, the Queens was “pleased” to hear that the original plaque had been recovered and “greatly appreciates the kind wish of Lytchett Matravers” to replace the fallen tree with another Cedar of Lebanon.

The plaque was restored by a local stonemason Judy Monk and, although it was impractical to replace the tree, thanks to members of the local history group, the stone has been re-sited in on a new patch of land overlooking the nearby countryside.

Clive summarises: “It was all down to the local history group. Members of the group helped clear the area where the plaque is now which was full of brambles. It was a collective effort from everyone.”