Mum hard at work in memorial garden on 12th anniversary of death of her soldier son Daniel Wade

VIDEO: ON the 12th anniversary of the death of 20-year-old Warrington soldier Private Daniel Wade during active duty in Afghanistan, his mum Lisa Billing was holding back the tears, hard at work in the memorial garden in honour of her son.

It was also three years to the day that the rejuvinated Marshall Gardens was officially opened in memory of Private Daniel Wade following a joint project involving Lisa and Warrington Borough Council.

Just like they were three years ago, the daffodils were in full bloom, providing a perfect backdrop to the gardens which have been renovated to make a focal point for memory and reflection near the town’s Cenotaph on Bridgefoot along the banks of the River Mersey.

Daniel Wade, a former Sir Thomas Boteler CE High School pupil, was one of six British soldiers killed by a massive Taliban bomb in Afghanistan in March 2012.
Private Daniel Wade and the five other soldiers had been on a security patrol in a Warrior armoured fighting vehicle when it was caught in an explosion in the Kandahar province.

Lisa has been instrumental in driving forward the revitalisation of the gardens, spending a number of years researching and developing the project.

While busy working on the gardens Lisa issued a plea for paint and tools to help keep on top of the maintenance of the gardens.
Anyone who can help with donations or would like to volunteer time to work on the gardens should email lisa at [email protected]

“The garden is absolutely brilliant,” said Lisa – Look at the daffodils, and the poppies are starting to come through.
“We don’t fundraise but put out shoutouts for items – we need some hammerite black paint and rollers and roller trays. We would be very grateful of anything,” said Lisa.

Marshall Gardens was named after Hon Alderman Edward Marshall M.B.E. an influential and respected member of the community, who died in 1983 at the age of 103.
Born in Lincolnshire, Marshall moved to Warrington at the age of 20 to work on the railways. He became well known for supporting poorer people and was awarded an M.B.E. for his role as Chair of the Warrington & District Joint Food Control Committee from the start of World War II onwards.

Included among new trees planted in the gardens are six cherry blossom trees – one for each of the Warrior Six – in honour of the sacrifice they made. Cherry blossoms were chosen as their short-lived blossom each year is a reminder that life is beautiful yet fleeting.