Walton Parish Council

On Friday 10th April Walton Parish Council held a rededication service at the War Memorial in Lower Walton. The service marked the 106th anniversary of the first dedication service in 1920 and the presentation of the recently renovated bronze plaques.

The service was attended by local residents along with members of Walton Parish Council and Borough Councillors. We are grateful to Sarah Hall MP, Warrington Mayor, Cllr Mo Hussain and Cllr Christina Hewitt, Chair of Walton Parish Council, who attended and took apart in our service. Special thanks also to local resident Lance Corporal Sam Boylan from the Band of the Scots Guards who played ‘The Last Post’ and ‘Reveille’ as part of the two minute silence.

We are grateful to Rev Keith Fletcher from St Johns Church who led our service.

Following the service, refreshments were provided at The Stag in Lower Walton.

For further information about our rededication service and the history of our War Memorial, visit the home page of our Parish Council Website.

The Parish Council has focused on renovating the war memorial in Lower Walton. We have been researching into its history and the changes that have been made to its appearance over the years; this research is ongoing. We have discovered a news article from 1920 that gives an account of the unveiling ceremony (see photograph).The appearance of the war memorial has clearly changed and we think this occurred after the second world war.

Over time with the volume of traffic that passes by, the memorial has become discoloured and in need of renovation. The immediate priority has been to have it professionally painted and have the bronze plaques renovated.

During our research, words that were read at the first dedication service have been found. These are presented here:

Mr Bellamy presiding said -

‘This beautiful monument was set amid the green trees and he hoped that this thought would be driven home of the sacrifice rendered by the men whose names were inscribed upon it. There are many more Memorials , many more elaborate and bigger but none would be more permanent.

In the big cities memorials were dwarfed by the buildings around them but this at Lower Walton was at the junction of important roads and people from all parts would stop to look at it .He hoped it would remind them of the service given.

Mr Wallington a father asked to speak- – he was much affected,

‘Fourteen men from Walton have given their lives for England, home and duty .Many a time there was a tugging of heartstrings and we could only ever say” Gods will be done.”England is worth fighting for . we that are older, could not do it but we are proud of those who go”.

Four of his lads went and one would never come back. He lay yonder in the fields of France and when he passed the Memorial he would be reminded of the deeds done and the willingness of the lads to go .He thought that here they had a worthy memorial which would tell the boys and girls of what their fathers and brothers did to keep England for them, as it had always been the home of liberty and freedom.