Heartfelt thanks to statue supporters
●
SGT Thomas Mottershead VC DCM. The month of January 2017 has been a very emotional month for me as I am the granddaugther of Sgt Thomas Mottershead, who bravely gave his life in action in the Great War 100 years ago in January 1917.
I have been over-awed by the response of the people of Widnes in remembering and honouring my grandfather.
As I live in Australia, I have been unable to take part in any of these commemorations.
However, I have been able to follow the unveiling of both the Blue Plaque at his birthplace of 6 Vine Street and of the 100 Commemorative Paving Stone in Victoria Park.
Also the Widnes branch of the Royal British Lefion visited his grave in Bailleul Cemetery, France, to lay a wreath and leave and bring soil samples from each place to the other.
An amazing way to keep his memory alive.
The Sgt Thomas Mottershead Statue Appeal has been awarded a £46,200 grant from funding body WREN to design and make a life-size bronze statue of Tom to be unveiled in Victoria Park in April 2018.
None of these events would have been possible without the uspport of a wide range of Widnes based organisations, such as Halton BC, RBL, the Statue Appeal committee, the Mottershead family members and most of all, the people of Widnes who have given so generously of their time and money to remember my grandfather.
I thank all those people who have remembered and honoured a true Widnesian, my grandfather.