Sponsored cycle ride for Oxford memorial

IBMT member Colin Carritt will be pedalling the 150 miles from Edinburgh to Aberdeen for the IBMT’s 2015 Annual General Meeting on 17 October

With him on the sponsored ride will be IBMT Treasurer Charles Jepson and other members of the IBMT and the National Clarion Cycling Club 1895. They will call at several International Brigade memorials along the way.

Carritt is chair of the Oxford committee of IBMT members who are raising funds for a memorial to the 31 volunteers from Oxfordshire who went to Spain in 1936-39.  

Colin said: “We are making good progress with our plans. We have received enthusiastic support from Oxford City Council for the memorial, which is to be located in one of the the city’s pre-eminent public spaces, Bonn Square.

“We have a dramatic and striking design by sculptor Charlie Carter and we’ve published a book about the Oxfordshire volunteers called ‘No Other Way’.  Our Oxford committee hopes to get the final green light from the city council this summer, which will allow the memorial to be erected later this year.”

He added: “All that remains is to complete the project funding. We already have £12,000 but we need £21,000.”

Among the Oxfordshire volunteers was Colin's father, Noel Carritt (1910-1992), and his uncle, Anthony Carritt, who was killed while driving an ambulance during the Battle of Brunete in July 1937. 

Anthony is one of six Oxfordshire Brigaders who died in Spain and whose names will be inscribed on the memorial.

Colin Carritt commented: “The Oxford memorial will be an important addition to the 100 plus memorials across Britain and Ireland. It will be in a prominent site visited by many thousands of people from around the world. They will be reminded for generations to come of the sacrifice and effort made by local people to fight fascism and defend democracy in Spain.”

To sponsor the Edinburgh to Aberdeen cycle ride email colin.carritt@tiscali.co.uk or write to him 83 Manor Road Woodstock OX20 1XS or to IBMT Treasurer Charles Jepson, Aysgaard, Beardwood Brow, Blackburn BB2 7AT.

‘No Other Way: Oxfordshire and the Spanish Civil War’ is available for £8, including p&p. Send cheques made out to the IBMT to: IBMT, 6 Stonells Road, London SW11 6HQ.