WI stalwarts putting their best foot forward

Reporter: Ken Bennett
Date published: 02 November 2020


Community stalwarts From Saddleworth WI put their best foot forward to help the Royal British Legion who have been struggling for funds due to Covid-19 restrictions.

The Legion set up a novel 11/11 challenge asking the nation to raise funds to help serving and ex-serving personnel and their families. 

And to compliment the initiative, Saddleworth WI's Walking Group came up with a Memorial Walking Challenge that identified more than 11 memorials to visit either as part of small WI walking groups or individuals in household bubbles.

And they braved the elements to ensure they visited as many as possible.

These included Silent Soldiers at Dobcross, Denshaw and Grotton, Commonwealth War Graves at Friezland Church and Lydgate Church, War Memorials in Uppermill, Austerlands, Waterhead, Lees cemetery and Stalybridge, war graves at the Independent Churchyard in Delph and the iconic Pots and Pans cenotaph.

Their aim is to visit as many memorials as possible, ideally wearing poppies and taking photographs at the various places of interest to be posted on social media and Saddleworth WI website.

Said a spokesperson: “Members have been encouraged to donate or sponsor those who are walking, then join the nation for a two-minute silence on 11/11 knowing they’ve made a difference to those who need our help today. 

“There is no walk to Pots and Pans and Remembrance Day service for the public this year.

"However, we have purchased a poppy wreath from Royal British Legion and will lay this on the memorial in Uppermill Gardens.

“Walks already completed have included a Stalybridge war memorial walk and a six mile Lydgate, Grotton, Austerlands, Waterhead and Lees War Memorials circular. 

“A longer walk to take in the memorials and war graves at Friezland, Uppermill, Dobcross, Delph and St Chads is planned for Remembrance Sunday, but new lockdown may mean this has to be done by members walking as individuals.”

For independent walkers, details of the walks can be printed from the walking group page on the website here

Members not walking are participating in other 11/11 challenges to help support the appeal - creating a collage of 11 photographs connected to Remembrance Day, posting them on social medía and donating a sum of money for each ‘like’ received or wearing red for 11 days.


Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.