Important that we never forget fallen

ON July 1 I attended Stockport’s commemoration of the beginning of the battle of the Somme one hundred years ago.

The battle went on for 141 days, not ending until November 18, 1916, with catastrophic loss of life.

I am interested in the many ways, for example through family histories, that we can remember the impact of the First World War one hundred years on.

I think it is particularly important for young people to get involved in First World War projects and I am pleased to hear that funding is available for youth groups, residents associations, faith groups and others through a programme called First World War; then and now.

I have also been contacted recently about the First World War Memorials programme, which aims to inspire local communities across the country to survey and conserve their local war memorials.

We have many ‘village’ memorials to the fallen of the First World War in Stockport, including Heaton Mersey and Heaton Moor, as well as the main memorial at Stockport Art Gallery.

The national charity Civic Voice has embarked on a survey of all the local war memorials in Greater Manchester – about 2,000 in all. Civic Voice is offering training workshops for volunteers who would like to get involved in recording the condition of local war memorials, so that if necessary they can be repaired as a fitting tribute to the fallen soldiers.

Civic Voice is offering volunteers a practical way to help protect our war memorials for future generations, so if you are interested you can find out more by calling 0151 707 4319.