Notes: 1. The Northern Echo article reads:
“Seventy years on from the bravery which won him the Victoria Cross, a North-East war hero was honoured by his former college yesterday.
Finchale Training College has renamed its main building Richard Annand VC House, in tribute to the late Durham Light Infantry (DLI) veteran.
Captain Annand was a personnel officer at the Durham City college for 31 years, from being discharged from the Army in 1948 until he retired, in 1979.
He worked tirelessly to help its students – disabled adults – become independent and find work, while also helping found the County Durham Association for the Disabled and serving as president of the North-East League of the Hard of Hearing.
The college’s main building, used for administration and teaching customer services, accountancy, IT and forklift truck driving, was renamed in a ceremony yesterday. The Bishop of Jarrow, the Right Reverend Mark Bryant, gave thanks for Capt Annand’s life, with music from Arthur Middleton, of 102 Battalion Pipes and Drums, and Bugle Major Garry Suggett, of the Territorial Army’s D-company, The Rifles.
After unveiling a plaque, Lieutenant General Robin Brims, of the Light Infantry, said: “It’s a great honour to be able to open this building.
Dick Annand was one of those VC winners who lived; and he dedicated the rest of his life to work for other people – and people who were disadvantaged.
“His contribution has been immense.
“This rightly recognises him for what he did for the community, beyond his VC.
It’s an astonishing double achievement.”
Sir David Chapman, Capt Annand’s nephew, said: “This is a wonderful memorial. It’s fantastic. This is a great honour to the family.
“He would have been immensely embarrassed. He was a very modest guy.”
College principal David Etheridge said: “Because it was the anniversary of him receiving the VC, and because he had such an amazing influence on the college over so many years, it seemed very appropriate that we should honour his name in the best way we could. He put his life and soul into this college. He used to take our students here, there and everywhere to get them work.”
The ceremony was also attended by dignitaries including the mayors of Durham, Sunderland and South Tyneside.
2. Sirius Demolition were commissioned by Story Homes to carry out asbestos removals and demolition works at the former Finchale College just north of Durham City. Sirius started work on site on the 11th March 2019, with a 21 week programme.
3. See his Every Name A Story entry.
