‘Doubly Thankful’ village pays tribute

A VILLAGE that saw all its men return from the two World Wars is to unveil a Doubly Thankful sign at the entrance to the community.

Butterton is the only village in Staffordshire that saw all its men return from the wars, which now allows it to be called a Doubly Thankful village.

The unveiling will form part of a day of proceedings in the community on Sunday, November 11.

The day will begin with a service in St Bartholomew’s Church to commemorate Remembrance and Thankfulness

BBC Radio Stoke will be transmitting the Remembrance service live in the morning.

Chairman of the village history group, Maggie Risby, said: “We received a grant of £435 from Staffordshire Moorlands District Council towards expenses for the day and have signed up to the nationwide ‘Battle’s Over’ group run by Bruno Peek, Pageantmaster.

“Other events are BBC Radio Stoke transmitting our Remembrance service live on the morning of the 11th and a three hour peal of bells with refreshments served in Church during the afternoon.

“There will be displays of WW1 and WW11 records of our Butterton men who went to fight and who returned to Butterton, hence earning us our title of the only Doubly Thankful Village in Staffordshire and the 17th in the whole of the UK.

“The lighting of a Beacon will take place in the evening at the village hall followed by a pie and pea supper.

“There will also be the drawing of the £500 one winner prize draw. Commemoration mugs will be on sale.

“All the Village Organisations have come together to do their bit under the leadership of the History Group.