ORGANISERS are hoping Ludlow residents will have gone ‘selfie crazy’ after installing three recently renovated benches in time for VJ Day.

The benches are in various sites around the town and have been restored by the Ludlow War Memorial Fund.

But because of social distancing restrictions people are being encouraged to ‘take a selfie’ by benches instead of turning out for large community events to commemorate the 75th anniversary of VJ Day.

There are many memorial benches around Ludlow where people are encouraged to take a ‘selfie’ as a personal way of honouring the men and women who have served.

The money to do the work on the benches was raised by public donations and money given in memory of loved ones.

Each of the benches has a plaque remembering individuals who fell in war.

Some of the benches and memorials to visit are the Memorial Square memorial and benches, The Battle of Britain 80th Anniversary bench in Sandpits Road, Castle Gardens Memorial Tree, the World War One Sailor seat at Henley Road, the Dave Lewis seat on Castle Gardens, the Pugh Family bench in Castle Gardens in memory of Japanese prisoner-of-war Stan Pugh, Whitcliffe Commemorative seat, Cemetery War memorial cross and the Memorial Tree.

War Memorial Fund chairman Councillor Graeme Perks, who has been restoring the benches, hopes that people will give generously.

“Please keep the donations coming into Poyners, so we can help to complete the St Laurence’s fundraiser for the HMS Ludlow Ensign and Ships Bell refurbishment,” said Mr Perks, who trained as a carpenter at the London School of Furniture.

Ludlow is a town with a rich military history.

The castle was an important border post between England and Wales and Ludlow featured in the English Civil War.

Its link with the Royal Welsh Regiment goes back more than 300 years and in September 2014 the freedom of the town was bestowed on the regiment.

Money raised from the people and businesses of the town paid for the names of all those from Ludlow who died in the First and Second World Wars as well as the Korean War to be put on stones around the base of the war memorial.

Because of Covid-19, commemorations of both VE Day in May and VJ Day this month were low key affairs. It is not known if Remembrance ceremonies in November can go ahead.