Old soldiers in tireless fight for colleagues

DEDICATED . . . Alan Noble (left) and Trevor Warren

A PAIR of ex-servicemen go above and beyond the call of duty with their efforts to stage the town’s annual Festival of Remembrance.

Trevor Warren (62) is secretary of the Parachute Regiment Association of Oldham, chairman of Oldham’s Royal British Legion branch and vice-chairman of the Liaison of Ex-Servicemen of Oldham.

Alan Noble (56) is chairman, secretary and trustee of the Liaison of Ex-Servicemen of Oldham, president of Oldham’s Royal British Legion branch and chairman of the Oldham Branch of Fusiliers.

The dedicated duo have been nominated for a Pride in Oldham Award for their efforts to make sure Oldham’s servicemen and women, past and present, are looked after.

They help to organise the Festival of Remembrance at the Queen Elizabeth Hall where ex-servicemen and women get together to remember fallen comrades.

Funds are raised through ticket sales and the money made goes towards helping service folk in need.

Trevor and Alan, who also play a big part in co-ordinating Oldham’s Poppy Appeal, are aiming to top the £55,000 raised in 2009.

Trevor said: “We are going all out this year and have enlisted the support of local cadets and scout groups to help us sell poppies and deliver them to schools and shops across the town.”

This year alone, Trevor has helped to organise 59 funerals for servicemen and women, some who died in Afghanistan and Iraq and some veterans who served in past conflicts.

Trevor, who served in the Parachute Regiment from 1967-78, got involved with local organisations after a bad fall forced him to retire.

He said: “I joined the British Legion and before I knew it I was vice chair and then chair and now I am doing something every single day in one way or another but I really enjoy what I do, I wouldn’t do it otherwise.”

Alan spent 25 years in the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, retiring in 1994. He now works at a sales company in Chadderton.

He said: “I am involved with many projects throughout the year and I really enjoy doing what I do. There is a great ex-service members’ community in Oldham and we all stick together.”

On being nominated for a Pride in Oldham Award, Trevor said: “I am really taken aback and humbled but really pleased.”

Alan added: “It’s nice that someone has taken the time to recognise what we do, we are very grateful for that.”

The pair were nominated by former Mayor’s secretary Carol Hyde. She said: “They have supported the ex-service community in Oldham for many years and ensured that the annual Festival of Remembrance takes place each year. They have also given their time and expertise to other events, such as Remembrance Sunday and the Mayoral Parade, on a voluntary basis.”