The Admiral said that the only windows in Stubbington church not already stained, were the two in the Lady Chapel, which would never be seen, or hardly ever. The Rector said that there was that great objection. He hesitated a little and added that the late incumbent had at his own expense put up a stone to the memory of communicants who had fallen. This could be seen in the north transept. He felt that the main Memorial should not be in the church.
The grocer said that the best possible site in all Stubbington was the triangular piece at the junction of the roads, the island-site, as it was called. Mr. Ock said that that was the best site. Lady Susan said that it was not so good a site as the Market Square, which was much bigger, clearer, and in all ways better for something that had to be looked at. Mr. Ock replied that the Market Square was too small already on market days for its original purpose as a market. Mr. Edge said that even on other days it was much too small for the numbers of cars that parked there. Any further encroachment on it would be a disaster.
Mr. Holyport suggested that something should be let into the wall of the Corn Exchange, which faced the Market Square. A wreath, surrounding a bronze relief, with a plaque of names below it, would look very well there, and be plainly seen by all in the Market Place.
“But you couldn’t do that with the Corn Exchange,” Frampton said. “It is a masterpiece, by Wren; you could not put an excrescence on Wren’s façade.”
A big man, with a heavy face, said that living people had every right to alter old work according to modern requirements; but that in his view, the Memorial ought to be on the other side of the Market Square, in the middle of the three shops; and that the middle shop should have its face remodelled so as to take it. The Rector said at once that any such scheme would be far more costly than they could afford.
The debate ranged up and down over possible and impossible sites. One or two minor members of the Committee, who had come in late, asked that the question of a water-supply to Budd’s End should be debated; one said that he had the offer of a very good playing-field, which would only have to be levelled a bit to be perfect for any game, as well as being on the river-bank, so that it could be used for swimming. These were told that those points had been ruled out, and the question now was, where the work of art should be put. They raised a protest against this, saying that they represented a large element in Stubbington, who would be indignant to find their wishes overruled. The Chairman said that the matter had been put to the Committee and voted against; it was, therefore, out of order to try to raise it again.
When most of the sites had been proposed, a man from the back of the room, sitting in shadow, said that he could not understand why no one had mentioned the open space in front of St. Hilda’s Chapel in Budd’s End. It was an open space to which hardly anybody ever came and nobody ever bothered about. It was near some of the worst slums in Tatshire, which was saying a good deal, and was, therefore, an ideal spot in which to put a Memorial to men who had died in the hope of bettering the world, and putting an end to war and slums and the competitive commerce which made both. He proposed a statue of Jesus weeping in front of the disused Hilda’s Chapel, Budd’s End. He rose from his place and came down past them. There was tense silence as he passed the Chair. He was a lame man, with only one arm, and face all writhed with suffering. Dick whispered to Frampton that he was one of the survivors from one of the torpedoed hospital ships.
“I don’t think my mates want any memorials from you,” he said, and went out.
Mr. Quart said: “I’m coming along to give you a lift home, Jack,” and went out with him.
There was a murmur of pity and condolence after they had gone. Then someone said that no one had made a better suggestion than the island site at the triangle. It was a good site, and one which nine out of ten of the people of Stubbington passed every day, and one by which all traffic had to go slow. It could hardly be bettered. He knew of no place in Tatshire so good.
There was a pause in the debate here; people fidgeted and whispered.
Frampton said: “You’ve asked me to come here to advise. I’m not a member of the Committee and do not like to speak unless spoken to; but might I ask if anyone has a prejudice against the bridge? It is the main approach to Stubbington. If you had a figure, one on each side, at the approach to the bridge, you would have something unique in England; I mean, the far end of the bridge, where people see the town behind the bridge.”