War memorial finally de-coned

IT took almost a week but the traffic cone has been removed from Annan’s War Memorial.

However, the incident proved controversially locally, with some heated views expressed on our Facebook page.

Some saw the lighter side, like Lorna Green, who said: “It’s a traffic cone, get a grip. Two minutes to put it up as a laugh. Two minutes to take it down. I do not think for a minute whoever did this done it out of disrespect. Probs a bit of drunken caper. We too were young and daft.”

Marilyn Madden agreed and said: “My Uncle John’s name is on the monument and I never met him but I don’t think that he would have minded just for a little while - it could be worse.”

And Jim Thorburn added: “Honestly, the things that people get offended by these days. If someone has caused any permanent damage I could understand the outrage. It’s just a wee bit of banter from someone trying to be current and raise a smile.”

But others were not amused, with Andy Johnstone saying: “How much humour would it give you to find it on a family members’ headstone? Would you laugh? No thought or respect.”

Ann Spence said: “I think it’s disrespectful on any statues, and doesn’t look good for visitors coming to Scotland.

“My dad served in Second World War for a better life for people.”

While Angelina Mccluskie said: “Yes it was light hearted World Cup banter in Boston that’s maybe gone too far this time.”