War grant pays for restoration of parchment

MOTTRAM St Andrew Parish Council has been awarded a grant to make repairs to its war memorials.

Cheshire East Council provided the funding to the council under the War Memorial Grant Scheme, which has been set up to fund repairs and refurbishment of First World War Memorials across the borough.

And the council has now used the £170 grant to clean and protect an illuminated parchment which forms part of the Mottram St Andrew Methodist Church’s memorial.

Coun Bill Pilkington said: “I’d like to thank Cheshire East for their support in this project. Restoring the manuscript was a central part of our work on the memorial.

“We also provided local funding within the parish, which enabled us to refurbish the lettering on the doors and to produce a commemorative book. We certainly have enjoyed putting this all together, and it is important that we remember that more than 20 people from the village gave their lives in both world wars.”

Coun David Brown, deputy leader of Cheshire East Council, visited the church to meet with Coun Pilkington, chairman of Mottram St Andrew Parish Council, and Coun Paul Findlow, ward councillor for Prestbury (pictured). After presenting the cheque for the money, Coun Brown said: “I’m delighted to be here today – this is the first cheque I’ve presented for the War Memorial Grants, and we’re supporting 28 projects across the borough. I congratulate Mottram St Andrew for being the first to receive funding, and for completing this important work.”

Coun Findlow said: “I am highly delighted to support the refurbishment of this important memorial, and I would like to pay tribute to the chairman of the Parish Council, Bill, for all the work he has personally put into this project.”