Page to be viewable via a post mounted QR Code sited by the memorial once live.

The Oxted RBL Branch Centenary Memorial Garden:

This Memorial Garden built in 2027 during our centenary year, when the adjacent Clubhouse was built. This land was originally gifted by Charles Hoskins Master of Barrow Green Court in 1908 for construction of a Church Room. The building was demolished after 1969 and the land left un used. In 2026 The Oxted Branch under the leadership of Rob Cogan Cdr (Retired), bought the land from Surrey County Council, with the intent to create this memorial garden and improve the space for use by our veterans their families and groups from the wider community.

The Memorial 

The memorial is a living sanctuary dedicated to honour, the 7041service personnel fallen from The Royal Navy, The British Army and The Royal Air Force, in the twenty two conflicts or operations since the end of World War II in 1945.

Click the following links for a brief history of each conflict or operation.

1: Post-WWII & Early Emergencies (1945–1959)

2: Changing Frontiers & The Cold War Era (1960–1989)

3: Modern Operations & Peacekeeping (1990–Present)

*All of these twenty two actions were recognised by the award of a medal or clasp.

The Ribbon Pathway Design:

This design is aimed to provide  an Inclusive Reflection & Journey.

• An Unbroken Journey: The 1.2m wide accessible ribbon shaped pathway provides a dignified, shared experience where every visitor walks—or rolls—the exact same path of honour.
• The Curve of Contemplation: A deliberate, fluid design that slows the pace, encouraging quiet reflection before reaching the Memorial Area.
• Form Meets Fluidity: Breaking the rigid angles of the surrounding site to create a soft, welcoming, and inclusive sanctuary for veterans and families alike.

Historical Roots of the Ribbon:

Tying strings for memory: The tradition of tying a ribbon or string as a mnemonic device dates back centuries to Roman times and folklore. Mourning Jewellery: Queen Victoria popularised black bow and ribbon motifs in mourning jewellery following the death of Prince Albert in 1861. Modern awareness movement: The loop-shaped ribbon gained mainstream philanthropic traction in the late 20th century—notably with yellow ribbons for military families and red/pink ribbons for health advocacy—transforming a simple knot into an international symbol of collective action.

 The Armed Forces Covenant: 

The Memorial Garden scheme directly aligns with the objectives of the Armed Forces Covenant by honouring post-1945 fallen personnel and tangibly improving the daily mobility, independence, and mental well-being of Oxted’s veteran community.

 Not for publication: 

just notes and ideas as we go forward.

WebPlan Future Tasks:

• Fund Raising: The National Lottery Heritage Fund. This interactive website page, Universal Access,
• £50,000] to unlock our digital heritage and universal access goals, matching this alongside syndicated regional and regimental funds. 
• Regimental Funds.
• TDC CIL
• Surrey County
• Logos of funders to be acknowledged and published on this page? on-site Plaque?

• The "Shovel-Ready" Banner: While fundraising, keep a progress tracker widget at the top of the page showing the syndicated fund countdown (e.g., "Target: £100,000 | Raised: £12,000 from Regimental Syndicates"). This shows the community and grant boards that the web platform is already alive, active, and driving momentum

• Change photo above once build is complete.                                                                                                            

Interactivity: for site visitor's, families , School Groups etc.

• Audio/Video Embeds (Accessibility): For veterans with vision impairments who are visiting the garden, embed short audio files next to each conflict heading. Visitors can press "Play" on their phones to listen to a reading of the conflict statistics and history rather than reading the screen. 
• Transcription to voice by audio book reader to give a professional edge. 
• Mp3 audio files embedded into an Listening ear logo like:               

• "Submit a Story" Web Form: Create a simple upload gateway on the page where local Oxted families can type out memories, upload digital scans of old photographs, or list names of relatives who served in any of these 22 campaigns. This turns the site into an active community-archive project.