Call for town to remember centenary of World War I
THE fundraiser behind two statues of Runcorn and Widnes war heroes is throwing his weight behind Warrington Borough Council’s First World War centenary observations – and is calling on Halton Borough Council to follow the lead of its neighbouring authority.
Tony Miller, who spearheads the Tom Wilkinson Statue Appeal, is lending his services to Warrington Council’s My Life programme, which approached him asking if he could help to set something up to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War in November.
Tony said: “I obviously agreed and we had a meeting to discuss things.
“I explained Tom Wilkinson VC had ‘done his bit’ in the First World War and asked could the Tom Wilkinson statue appeal be involved.
“They readily agreed it could, and the appeal will be at the November 11 centenary in Warrington.
“We are trying to find people who are descendants of people who lived in Warrington during WW1 and if they have any written or physical items like photographs to show what was happening in and around Warrington, and of course those who went to war.
“I feel very honoured to have been approached for input for this momentous time in world history.
“Hopefully we may continue our rela- tionship with them after the centenary.”
Tony, who is from Runcorn and has already raised funds for two statues in Halton, called on the council to join its neighbours in marking the historic occasion and hopes it will assist in organising a similar event in Widnes.
He said: “We are hoping to link up with other councils in the area.
“We are planning to do something very similar for Widnes and its people, as we are not aware of anyone else doing it.
“We want people to realise the First World War wasn’t just about Tommies going over the top.
“It was about everyday people doing things for the war effort.
“We are willing to give talks to schools and groups and show genuine First World War and Second World War items.
“Just because the centenary is coming up, doesn’t mean we should forget the First World War and Second World War on November 12. “They should be remembered every day and not for a few minutes in November.”
In an appeal formally sent in writing to Halton Borough Council, Tony said: “I am positive HBC could give a grant towards this project from their Government grant to commemorate the centenary.”
In his letter, Tony suggested that two beacons be lit in Runcorn and Widnes on November 11, and raised the idea that residents could put forward their own mementos and the stories behind them to illustrate Halton’s contribution to the war effort. ●