A new piece of artwork in the style of a First World War grave has been made to commemorate our fallen heroes.

Charity Sheppey Matters commissioned Queenborough artist Lee Rough to create the tombstone next to the Sheerness War Memorial, in Bridge Road.

Next to it is a crescent shaped floral arrangement by community gardener Nicola Waghorne, from Minster.

She said the armed forces are very close to her heart as her brother, Staff Sgt Jason Stevens, is serving in the Queen’s Royal Hussars.

It is hoped an embossed engraving dedicated to all those who lost their lives in the 1914-18 conflict will be added to the front of the tombstone in time for Remembrance Sunday.

Mr Rough has family who fought in the armed services, including an uncle who was a member of a Sheerness artillery group.

The 42-year-old made the sculpture using a metal cast and the stone itself consists of a granite composite.

He said: “It’s a memorial to those people in active service and it’s out of respect to all those who have fought over land, air and sea.”

Sheppey Matters has had the maintenance contract for the war memorial for the past 18 months and has regenerated the garden area. It was able to pay for the new work thanks to an undisclosed amount of funding obtained by Sheppey Tourism Alliance.

Remembrance services will be taking place across the Island today. They will be held at:

• The Cenotaph, Bridge Road, Sheerness. A parade starting from Canterbury College Swale Campus car park at 10.30am. After a service and wreath-laying at the War Memorial, it will pass through High Street and Broadway before entering Holy Trinity Church at 11.45am. There will be temporary road closures along the route.
• All Saints’ Church, High Street, Eastchurch, 10am. Parish Eucharist, Service of Remembrance. The service will join commemorations at the Lychgate before returning inside for prayers.
• The Lychgate, Leysdown Road, Leysdown, 2pm. Act of Remembrance taken by the Rev Chris Shipley.
• Minster Abbey, Chapel Street, Minster, 10.45am. Remembrance Service led by the Rev Tim Hall.
• Holy Trinity Church, High Street, Queenborough, 10.45am. Parish Eucharist Service and laying of wreaths at the War Memorial at 11am officiated by the Rev Sue Martin.
• War Grave, off Harty Ferry Road, Harty, 3pm. Service, Act of Remembrance and a wreath-laying led by the Rev Chris Shipley.
• Another service will be held on Monday, November 11, at the Cross of Sacrifice in Halfway Cemetery, Halfway Road, meeting between 10.15am and 10.30am.