Memorial for town mayor to be built in Doncaster by Spring of 2021

Past Edlington Town Mayor Frank Arrowsmith died on November 9, 2020 after a battle with cancer.

Frank was a well loved member of the community for many years, and a fundraising effort has begun to build a memorial for him in the Edlington Miners Memorial Garden.

Cllr Rob Reid said: “I’ve lost a friend and a role model.

“He was a really wonderful person who helped so many with their problems.”

Cllr Reid hopes to raise £5,000 to put towards building a memorial in honour of his colleague and friend.

Frank’s family will decide what shape the memorial will form.

“I think it’s hugely important for Edlington and for all the people that knew him that he be remembered in this way,” he continued.

“He did so much for the community and was so passionate about mining heritage in Edlington.”

Additionally to the memorial the funds will be used to plant an oak tree in Frank's memory at the Edlington Community Woodland Project which he founded.

Any money left over will go towards forest school lessons for children who use the woodland facility.

Frank was an avid supporter of green spaces and often pushed for environmental projects to go ahead in Edlington.

“We hope to raise the money by the New Year and have the memorial built by Spring of 2021,” Cllr Reid said.

“That way it would be in place for the annual miners memorial service and we could have a special section dedicated to just him.”

In his lifetime Frank was a former NUM Trade Unionist, Miners Memorial Heritage supporter, Edlington Town Councillor and lastly Town Mayor.

Cllr Reid said: “He helped Edlington grow and I was proud to be his friend.

“He had a passion that was a breath of fresh air and led him to tackling issues that hadn’t been managed before his arrival on the council.

“He was the type of person who you could always go and talk to.”

You can donate to the memorial fund here.

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