Mansfield village goes global after being featured on forces TV

A Mansfield village which had its silent soldier memorial stolen has ‘gone global’ after the Chad’s story was picked up by British Forces Broadcasting.
By Dale Spridgeon
Published 11th Dec 2020, 07:00 BST
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Last month the Kings Clipstone’s steel commemorative feature was stolen – just days after it was installed in time for Remembrance Day.

The Chad wrote about the theft and the village’s plight and as a result, the story was distributed on social media, and picked up other local coverage, and the village went on to receive three offers of a replacement.

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The story was then picked up by the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) and was shared to the many thousands of people serving in the armed forces across the world.

British Forces Broadcasting Service featured Kings Clipstone after its silent soldier was stolen Pictured: Just before the filming are Phil Shaw Brown, Stefan Drew and Cate Hunt.British Forces Broadcasting Service featured Kings Clipstone after its silent soldier was stolen Pictured: Just before the filming are Phil Shaw Brown, Stefan Drew and Cate Hunt.
British Forces Broadcasting Service featured Kings Clipstone after its silent soldier was stolen Pictured: Just before the filming are Phil Shaw Brown, Stefan Drew and Cate Hunt.

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Parish councillor Cate Hunt said: “It was all down to the Chad’s story and it going out on social media.

"On Thursday, December 3, a British Forces Broadcasting Service reporter called Kirstie Chambers visited Kings Clipstone to interview and film where the theft occurred.

"So, we planned to coincide the filming with the presentation of the replacement soldier which has been kindly made by local company Shaw Track Ltd, of Clipstone.

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British Forces Broadcasting Service filming at Kings Clipstone - unknown camera man with reporter Kirstie Chambers and Stefan DrewBritish Forces Broadcasting Service filming at Kings Clipstone - unknown camera man with reporter Kirstie Chambers and Stefan Drew
British Forces Broadcasting Service filming at Kings Clipstone - unknown camera man with reporter Kirstie Chambers and Stefan Drew

“BFBS interviewed the firm’s business director Phil Shaw-Brown and its managing director Stefan Drew who just happened to be an armed forces veteran, he was in the Royal Engineers. I was also interviewed to give the back story of the theft.

“We’d actually had three offers of a replacement. Shaw Track had seen our plight in the Chad and asked if we’d like them to make us a replacement.

"The inquiry to film the story for the BFBS coincided with the offer, it was perfect timing and with Stefan being a veteran it all fell into place!”

The village’s story went out on air on BFBS on Friday, December 4.

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Cate added: “It was really good and Kings Clipstone went global! We have now asked for permission to have the news clip on the village web-page.”

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She added: “The new monument is similar, not exactly the same as the old one. It is not in its permanent position yet, but it will be securely fixed in place to avoid any tampering this time.”

Related topics:ChadMansfield