Man who spent retirement repairing Norfolk milestones hidden from Nazis wins prize

Upon retirement, many people choose to take up a new language, perfect the art of baking or travel the world.

Nigel Ford, a former window cleaner, has gone one better: seeking out and repairing centuries-old milestones across Norfolk after they were hidden from the Nazis and forgotten.

Mr Ford, now 69, has spent seven years carefully restoring and reinstating 150 milestones in his home county, fixing the ones left standing and digging up those buried during the Second World War.

His efforts, and those of the wife he jokes “tolerates” his passion, have now been rewarded by Historic England with an Angel Award, aimed at celebrating the efforts of people across the country devoting their time and energy “bringing irreplaceable historic places back to life”.

Speaking afterwards, Mr Ford said he had been inspired to take on the ambitious milestone project after seeing one crumbling at the roadside and fearing his grandchildren would only be able to see them in museums by the time they got older.

The interest became a hobby after his retirement in 2010, and has since become virtually a full time job.

Seven years on, he has now worked with 24 groups of primary school children to get them involved in repainting milestones, and has assembled a team of half a dozen volunteers to assist him.

Even the Prince of Wales has offered a helping hand, painting two of the Roman numerals during restoration and relocation of the milestone at Anmer in 2013.

Mr Ford, a grandfather-of-three, said he hoped the award, for “best rescue, recording or interpretation of a historic place” would help encourage others with an interest in history to teach the next generation.

The “painstaking” work, he said, had seen 150 milestones already repaired, after they were left neglected, broken or deliberately buried during the war to confound potential enemy parachutists.

There are around 220 known to exist but still to be restored.

“The award is very important to me,” he said. “I felt that I was receiving it not purely as a result of my efforts but on behalf of all the people who have helped us over the last seven years.”

Lord Lloyd Webber, whose Foundation supports the awards, said: “I’m delighted that these awards shine a spotlight on people who work tirelessly to bring our heritage back to life in such a vibrant way.”