THE memorial headstone from the grave of ‘Zulu’ hero Henry Hook VC in a Churcham that was removed without consent has been returned.

The small village of Churcham had been devastated when the grave of its most famous son Henry Hook VC was taken.

But after an appeal in The Forester the magnificent marble monument was returned on Monday.

Churchwarden Paul Charter said: “A lot of lessons have been learnt following this incident but we are delighted that the monument has been returned.

"Lots of people visit the church and the graveyard and since the memorial’s disappearance the comments in the visitor’s book have significantly increased.

"We have decided that sufficient interest has been generated about the life of Henry Hook we are going to mount a permanent exhibition.

• To help with the church’s upkeep and its grounds a fete is being held this weekend at Churcham School between 2pm and 5pm.