THE stonemason who worked on the major memorial to the soldiers who lost their lives in the Falklands conflict, which was a focus for the ceremony of remembrance at Stanley recently, was Tavistock man Doug Gee.
The granite for the memorial stones and base was taken from Merrivale Quarry and painstakingly worked on by stonemason Doug through 1983 and 1984.
Doug, who lives at Greenlands, said the aim had been to create a fitting memorial to the soldiers who served in the Falklands conflict.
In fact, Doug had to do the work twice, as the first set of stone blocks were damaged by fire while they were being transported to the Falkland Islands, forcing him to start again from scratch.
Doug said although he had done most of the work, colleagues Bill Fielder and Dave Williams had cut down and polished the stone respectively.
The most delicate work was carried out all by hand by Doug.
?I was working on the stone in all weathers, in wind and rain,? he said.
Doug said working on the memorial the second time, he would take around a week on each stone, as it was a rush order to be ready in time.
Doug, 72, said he was disappointed he had never been given the chance to visit his finished work out in the Falkland Islands.
?I would like to have gone out there, but it?s too late now,? he said.
Doug said when he was told the first set of stones had been burnt and he would have to start again from scratch, he just got on with the work.
?It?s just a job to do. I liked my work and it was for a good cause,? he said.
?I did it. I?m proud of doing it,? said Doug.
Doug completed the base of the memorial and then the second blocks arrived at Stanley in May 1984, a month before the official opening of the memorial.
The blocks were placed on top of each other to create a memorial nearly 30ft high.
Doug worked at Merrivale Quarry, near Princetown, since 1955, before retiring in the mid-nineties.
?It broke my heart when I heard the quarry was closing. I gave my life there,? said Doug.