Young collectors’ lasting memorial
AN artistic craze which has proven a big hit with children has been harnessed to create a lasting Remembrance memorial.
The new pastime - which started last October and spread through social media - involved painting and varnishing stones, hiding them in the locality and then hunting for more.
The RammyRocks Facebook group now boasts more than 13,000 members in and around Ramsbottom, and is just one of several similar groups which have been set up.
RammyRocks is now sparking the curiosity and creativity of young minds and helping them to develop an interest in the centenary of the Great War’s armistice.
Youngsters have painted rocks with per- sonal messages to form part of a memorial, which - along with a plaque - will become a permanent centrepiece in the town’s Nuttall Park.
The installation, which was the idea of Navy veteran Steve Butterworth, was unveiled by veteran Lewis Banham along with seven-year-old Maizie Butterworth on Sunday, November 4 at a ceremony attended by dignitaries and veterans.
Chatterton mum-of-three Sigrid Richards set up the original Facebook group with Helen Idle and has worked on this project alongside Steve, and Gemma Lievesley.
She said the memorial has seen contributions from pupils of local schools including St Andrew’s, St Joseph’s, Hazlehurst, Emmanuel Holcombe and Peel Brow.
Sigrid said they have had a variety of different designs on the rocks for the memorial - as well as many traditional poppies.
She said: “One of my favourites is a ‘peace turtle’ - a turtle with the word peace above it. It’s a celebration of the end of the war and it’s just trying to attract the children as well because it means very little to them otherwise.
“It’s really difficult for them to grasp real war.
“We have had help from everybody in Ramsbottom. We have had rocks donated and people painting them.
“The community hub have donated pens. Complete Driveway Designs have helped to construct it. This has been a proper community effort.”
A time capsule has also been buried to be opened in 100 years’ time, a way to connect the past, the present and the future.