Friends' group restores war memorial

A FRIEND’S group has carried out restoration work on a war memorial at Great Sankey, Warrington to mark the centenary of the First World War.
The Friends of St Mary’s Cemetery has worked hard to ensure the Sankey and Penketh War Memorial – which is in the cemetery – is restored in time for Remembrance Day.
Chairman Trudi Wood said: “This has been a labour of love for the group and we are honoured that the responsibility for restoring this monument has fallen to us.
“We have been very busy fundraising over the past 18 months and are extremely grateful to all individuals and organisations that have helped us to reach our goal.”
Vice chairman Bob McLaughlin added: “We are also grateful to Warrington Borough Council’s Bereavement Services who have helped us throughout this long process. We simply couldn’t have done it without them.”
The War Memorial will be re-dedicated at a ceremony on October 5 which will mirror the original ceremony in 1922.
During the ceremony, the memorial will be officially re-dedicated to honour not just the fallen from both the First and Second World Wars, but also those from Great Sankey and Penketh who have lost their lives in all conflicts since then.
Friends’ secretary Jean Bouch is requesting that anyone who is related to a person remembered on the memorial to get in touch with her as the Friends’ would like them to attend this event.
She added: “If anyone wishes to attend this event they are more than welcome to do so”.
To contact Jean or for more information visit the website www.friendsofstmaryscemetery.co.uk or email [email protected]
Picture: Volunteers accepting a cheque from a local supermarket towards the memorial restoration fund. Left to right: Cathy Robinson, Alice Condron, Trudi Wood, Jean Bouch, Debbie McKevitt, and Annabel Condron.