On Sunday 26 th October, 121 (Nuneaton) Squadron ATC joined the Royal British Legion and other Ex-Service organisations together with members of the public who turned out in their hundreds to welcome a familiar old soldier back 'on parade' in a place of honour at the heart of Nuneaton.

The town's distinctive war memorial, a bronze statue of a Boer War soldier which had been a focal point within the town for over 100 years was stolen from its plinth during the night of 14 th November 2006 just two days after people gathered to mark their respect to victims of war.

After almost two years of community fund raising supported by the Nuneaton Air Cadets the replica statue of a Boer War warrior known as ‘Old Bill' is now back on his plinth in Riversley Park .

On Sunday the people of Nuneaton young and old alike assembled in the park for the Act of Dedication conducted by the Reverend Alex Potts, Padre of 30 th Signal Regiment, Bramcote.

Cllr Marcus Jones, leader of the Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council, said, “Thanks to the generosity and commitment of the people of the borough raising an astonishing amount of money in a short time our memorial is now back in its place of honour so that we can all pay our respects to those who paid the ultimate price in service of their country.”.

Flt Lt Ian Crewe, Officer Commanding 121 (Nuneaton) Squadron said, “We were appalled when we heard of the theft of the original memorial and only to glad to be able support the appeal to raise the money for a replacement. Our cadets and the Squadrons Band have turned out for numerous fund raising events during the past two years. So as we stood along side the Ex-Servicemen and people of Nuneaton today during this colourful service we could look up at ‘Old Bill' and know that we had done our bit to help get him Back on Parade.”