Hero’s statue appeal hits its target

FUNDRAISING for a statue to a Widnes Victoria Cross (VC) hero has been completed despite a planned final push being scuppered after the North West Vintage Rally was cancelled.

The Sgt Thomas Mottershead Statue Appeal had been due to hold its final public fundraising event at Victoria Park over Saturday, September 23, and Sunday, September 24.

But the annual event had to be called off with only a few days to go for only the second time in 18 years after rain severely saturated the ground.

But Tony Miller, appeal founder and secretary, told the Weekly News the remaining funds have since been generated through a new beer which has been brewed in the borough.

He said: “It was very disappointing that the Vintage Rally was cancelled, it was to be our last public event, and the final push for raising the last of the money required for the appeal.

“As it happens our chairman Dave Grey has worked very hard in getting a WWI recipe beer brewed by Norton Brewery.

“With the money from that, the money has finally been raised.

“We cannot thank everyone who has donated to the appeal enough.

“We’ve had donations from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA. Not forgetting we had two anonymous donations of £5,000, and £3,000.”

The Our Heroes beer is based on an original First World War and has gone on sale at selected pubs in the borough.

The tribute has been sculpted in bronze and due to be officially unveiled in Victoria Park at the start of next April and coincides with the centenary of the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) formation.

Sgt Mottershead served in the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) – the RAF’s predecessor – during the First World War.

His plane was set ablaze by German fire over the Western Front in January 1917, but saved the life of his observer by landing the aircraft behind British lines.

He later died from his injuries and was buried in France.

He was awarded the VC posthumously, with his wife being presented with her late husband’s medal by King George V in London in June 1917.

A commemorative stone was unveiled in Victoria Park earlier this year and a plaque has also been unveiled at his birthplace on Vine Street.

A campaign to build a statue to another Widnes VC recipient is due to officially launch next January.

Acting Lieutenant Thomas Wilkinson was given his award posthumously for actions against the Japanese in the Far East in the Second World War.

The tribute would be located in West Bank. ● Fundraising for the statue of Sgt Thomas Mottershead from Widnes, has finally been completed, and above, statue appeal founder Tony Miller, of Runcorn