For the love of Warby: Remembering legendary PC Warburton

A woman’s institute leader has praised a kind hearted community for raising funds to provide a memorial bench to remember a legendary local policeman.

Jessica Moreland, president of Dovestone WI, was speaking after a bumper coffee morning they organised at Uppermill civic hall to celebrate PC Martin Warburton, affectionately known as Warby, who died recently.

Some years ago, Martin, described by colleagues as “the cornerstone of community policing,” had an apartment block named in his honour in Uppermill.

The Dovestone WI  had earlier launched a Just Giving Page, but overall the event, backed by donations from Saddleworth morris men and Saddleworth rotary club, raised more than £930.

Jessica said: “The awesome Saddleworth community have done it again. We would like to thank one and all that took part or contributed to our fundraising coffee morning to  raise funds in memory of  PC Martin ‘Warby’ Warburton 4991.

“A huge thank you to today a great success with grateful thanks to McClintocks  Farm,  Paul’s Meats Ltd.  JW Buckley’s bakery and  DWI members and committee who baked some fabulous things to sell.”

Raffle prizes were donated by The Old Bell, Delph, Reclamation Rooms, Uppermill,  Hair by Kathryn, Uppermill, Not just Travel Co, Lorraine Robinson, Saddleworth Boutique, Uppermill, Jules Jakes Temple Spa and Hair & Beauty Lounge, Delph.

She added: “We can now get cracking and get this bench sorted so Martin’s family, friends and colleagues can all enjoy the legacy that was ‘Warby’.

Dovestones DWI host a Monday Meet Up, the first Monday of every month, is free to members and £2 for guests.This is a great opportunity to make friends and chat over coffee and cake. Craft demonstrations and workshop details can be found our website.

On the last Sunday of each month we will be joining forces with Vintage Rewind for The Yackety Yak Initiative at Boarshurst Band Club,entry £5 including cakes and biscuits from 12p.m.-3p.m. 

If you suffer from loneliness please come along to this friendly monthly social gathering,listen to music from the 40s,50s and 60s and make new friends.

And to celebrate their first birthday, Dovestone WI are hosting an ‘Ice and Fire’ first Birthday Fundraising Ball, details of which you can find at www.dovestonewi.com 

The group meet on the third Tuesday of each month upstairs in the Wimberry Suite at the Royal George Greenfield at 7.30pm. 

The speaker on February 18 is Sharon Pegg, a Well-being and Mental Health Specialist. Sharon is accredited with MHFA (Mental Health First Aid) England to deliver MHFA training courses within businesses up and down the country.

New members and guests are welcome. Guests may attend two taster meetings before joining. The annual subscription of £43 is now due. Please register in the downstairs bar. There is a monthly donation of a £1 for members and £3 for non-members.

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