Back on display – tribute to Prestwich’s forces veterans

A Prestwich memorial to those who served in the First World War is back on display at the town’s library.

For many years the Roll of Honour was located at the Longfield Suite, but was taken into storage following the closure of the centre.

It will now be displayed in the heritage museum upstairs in Prestwich Library. The library will be open on Remembrance Sunday from 9.30am to 1pm so people attending the wreath laying in Prestwich can visit it before the start of the parade. At other times, the library is open: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays (10am to 4.30pm), Thursdays (12.30pm to 7pm) and Sundays (9.30am to 1pm).

Sedgley councillor Richard Gold, Bury Council’s cabinet member for communities and armed forces champion, said: “With Remembrance Sunday coming up, I felt it was important to put the memorial on display once more and allow Prestwich people the chance to remember those who served in the Great War.”

And Cllr Eamonn O’Brien, leader of the council, added: “It’s fitting that we unveil the memorial this week, when the council and NHS CCG have signed our new armed forces covenant to help give veterans and their families all the support we can give them.”

The framed and glazed memorial is in three panels, its coloured decorations featuring the arms of Prestwich and the Allied powers.

There are 1,536 names on the roll of honour, with the names of the dead (180) coloured in red and starred with the date they fell, and the names of the missing in blue.

The inscription says: “The following are the names of the residents who at the call of duty joined His Majesty’s Army in defence of their King and Country to uphold the cause of freedom in the European War 1914-18.”

Tom Gribben, chairman of Prestwich Remembers who organise the remembrance parade, said: "I'm pleased to see the roll of honour back in Prestwich and that people can pay their respects before it again."

Students from The Heys School in Prestwich were also at the unveiling, and two of their head prefects will be laying wreaths at the Prestwich Remembrance service on Sunday.

Head teacher Rachel Evans said: “All pupils will be observing a two-minute silence, and we are also having a small remembrance service with all the Year 7 and 8 pupils. This will include the laying of wreaths, a staff member playing the last post and some pupils doing some short readings.

“All our KS3 students are producing their own poppy during their history lessons this week, focusing on a specific theme that shows their respect and gratitude. These poppies will go towards creating a display in the humanities building, showing our continued respect for those who have fallen.”

She added: “The school’s main charity is Broughton House, which supports veterans and families across Greater Manchester through their Veteran Care Village. We have continued to raise money through charity events in the school and a recent parachute jump by myself and the assistant head at which we raised more than £1,000. Our staff have also completed a half marathon to raise money.

“We hope that, when the risk of Covid have been removed, we will be able to volunteer at Broughton house and have the veterans in school to watch out school shows in the way that we have in the past.”