Resting place of Ram Ben is restored after cash floods in to appeal fund
FAMILY MEMBER BEHIND THE CAMPAIGN SAYS HE HAS BEEN LEFT HUMBLED BY SIZE OF THE
THE man in charge of raising £4,000 to restore the grave of a Derby County and England football says he has been “humbled” after work was finally completed.
Colin Smith has praised those who donated towards the fund to restore Ben Warren’s grave to its former glory – 104 years after his early death aged just 37 in 1917.
Warren was born in Newhall on May 7, 1879 at The Thorn Tree Inn, which is still in service today. A plaque in his honour is attached outside the pub.
He played for Derby County and Chelsea and won 22 caps for England. He is buried in the churchyard at St John’s, Newhall.
In January, after discovering he was distantly related by marriage, Colin launched an appeal on the anniversary of Warren’s January 15 death, to raise money to repair the headstone on the grave. The appeal smashed its £1,200 target in just three days.
Warren’s marble headstone and grave have fallen into disrepair with the large cross broken. The grave was also overgrown.
Colin enlisted the help of Artstone Memorials to replace the headstone and cross, and the company even offered to write the inscriptions on the new one free of charge.
Colin said: “I am deeply humbled for everyone who donated in January this year to support me and finally a massive thank you to everyone, local people, football supporters of Newhall, Derby County and Chelsea and football clubs for their donations.
“Warren will now be remembered more easily when anyone walks through St John’s and see this beautiful memorial just off the pathway. Finally, a huge thankyou for Art Stone Memorials Team in everything they have done from the first day I approached them. The team have worked endlessly on this project to provide this for Warren and his family as a lasting memorial. Thank you again for everything. A dedication service at the grave was held on Sunday.
According to the 1901 census, Warren was a 21-year old boiler maker, living at home with his parents and 10 of his siblings. He had four more younger siblings, making him one of 12. They lived at 201 Union Road, Newhall. His father was also a boilermaker.
He was a talented footballer, playing for Swadlincote, Newhall Town and Newhall Swifts, until Derby County came knocking and signed him in May 1898. He made 242 appearances for the Rams and
A massive thank-you to supporters of Newhall, Derby County and Chelsea for their donations. Colin Smith
scored 19 goals.
On July 28, 1908 Chelsea paid £1,000, which equates to £120,000 today and in those days a hefty transfer fee. Chelsea beat of stiff competition for his signature from Leicester Fosse and Manchester City. Warren also made 22 appearances for England, including during the 1908 First Overseas tour playing Austria twice, Hungary and Bohemia all in a week. By 1911, according to the 1911 census, he was a professional footballer, married to Minnie and they had four children, named Harry, Lilian, Maurice and Granville. They also had one servant and were living at Donard Villa at 18
Sunnyside in Newhall.
Harry went on to become manager at Coventry and Southend following in the footsteps of his father into the game.
However, on October 28, 1911, Warren injured his knee and never played football again.
Colin said: “In those days you didn’t get paid if you didn’t play so in the second half he was more of a ‘passenger.’ He had a wife and four children at home. He became worried and his mental health deteriorated.”
Warren died on January 15, 1917 at Derby Pastures Hospital, at the time an asylum. A memorial service was held at the United Methodist Church, Newhall, on February 18, 1917 where a large congregation included representatives of football bodies.