forged

Smoke, sparks and flames filled the November night air as Watford’s elected Mayor, Peter Taylor lit the 100th Anniversary Armistice Day fire beacon at the south end of Watford Museum’s front garden.

The Watford Armistice Day beacon lighting was one of over 1,000 lit throughout the UK at 7pm on Sunday 11th November to commemorate the end of the darkness of the First World War and a return to peace.

The remembrance ceremony included readings by Mayor Peter Taylor; Hertfordshire’s Lord-Lieutenant, Robert Voss; Watford Borough Council councillor, Rabi Martins and Jan Rees of Watford Arts Society.

Petefire Artist Blacksmith was commissioned to forge Watford’s Armistice beacon by Watford Borough Council. Sarah Kerenza Priestly, curator of Watford Museum said, ‘Watford Museum is proud to support local artists and businesses.’

Peter helped on the evening by filling the Armistice Day beacon with wood, and a couple of strategically placed firelighters with a generous layer of wood shavings near the bottom, Petefire also loaned a decorative forged lighting stick, with paraffin-soaked Kevlar.

Watford’s fire station is just across the road on Watford’s Lower High Street and very kindly loaned a long ladder to assist with lighting the beacon – they commented that their job was to put fires out – not to help light them!

Peter Williamson said, ‘We are very proud to have been commissioned to design and make the fire beacon.’

The beacon will be stored along with it’s wooden pole for future commemorative events in Watford.

Two Peters – Peter Williamson with Watford’s Elected Mayor Peter Taylor