At this stage the committee did not seem to see any contradiction between the need for a non-denominational site and the use of St John’s, an Anglican church. Their main concern was the likely cost, which, if all the names were to be engraved on brass, would be ‘considerable’. As an alternative, Lt Col Evill suggested a smaller brass plate inside the church with the words ‘To the memory of officers and men of the 1st Monmouthshire regiment who fell etc.’ plus, underneath the plate, a vellum book containing a detailed list of names and places where each was killed and ‘a statue to be erected in some public place on the base of which names of all ranks who fell would be engraved’. This proposal met with general agreement and a sub-committee was appointed to deal with the matter.
Ms Mitchell says despite her ordeal, she is pleased she now knows more about grass snakes and adders in the UK. She says she’s been surprised by the reaction her posts on the sighting garnered on social media. “I’ve now been told to be careful this time of year with my dog,” she said. “If she is bitten by an adder I now know I should carry her as the venom can spread around the body as they move. So I learned something new from my freak-out yesterday. “It’s funny how different the reactions have been. Some are saying they will no longer walk by the canal. Others are saying how awesome it is!”