We will never forget them
Reporter: RICHARD HOOTON
Date published: 15 November 2010
Oldhamers out in force as public salutes those who made the ultimate sacrifice
OLDHAMERS ignored the bitter cold yesterday as thousands turned out to remember those who have died serving their country.
It stayed dry as the borough fell silent for two minutes as the clock struck 11am.
Hundreds lined town centre streets as a magnificent parade, led by Oldham Scottish Pipe Band and followed by splendidly turned out cadets, marched to the war memorial outside Oldham Parish Church for an open-air service.
Oldham Mayor, Councillor David Jones, led the wreath-laying with those following including the Lord Lieutenant’s Deputy and Honorary Freeman Norman Stoller CBE, Oldham Police Chief Superintendent Tim Forber, MP Michael Meacher, Youth Mayor Liam Turner, council chief executive Charlie Parker and deputy leader Jackie Stanton.
The Vicar of Oldham, Rev Derek Palmer, led the service with Father Stephen Doyle and Rev David Ireland giving readings and prayers.
Rev Palmer told the gathering: “We pray for all who in bereavement, disability and pain continue to suffer the consequences of fighting and terror. We remember with thanksgiving and sorrow those whose lives, in world wars and conflicts past and present, have been given and taken away.”
Hymns were played by Oldham Music Centre Band and a bugler sounded the Last Post and Reveille.
Church leaders from across the borough reported bumper turnouts for services.
In SHAW & CROMPTON, more than 1,000 people attended at Crompton War Memorial where a procession assembled after marching from the Royal British Legion, Newtown Street.
Rev David Jones, minister at St Paul’s Methodist Church, led the service with Father Harry Edwards, of Holy Trinity, and Captain Anthony Goodwin, of Shaw Salvation Army, giving prayers and readings.
Rev Jones said: “It was a very good turnout and we get more and more each year, especially with the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan.”
In ROYTON, uniformed services paraded from Radcliffe Street to the war memorial at Royton Park and back, passing Royton Town Hall.
Canon Peter McEvitt led the service on behalf of St Paul’s, with support from Trinity Methodist and Thornham St James churches. More than 1,000 people attended.
St Anne’s Church was packed for an emotional service with around 180 people present and uniformed organisations and children taking part, including laying wreaths outside. Rev James Read led the service with support from Rev David Holford and Rev Liz Deball.
More than 500 people made the steep trek up to the pots and pans memorial above GREENFIELD, where Rev Howard Sutcliffe, of St Chad’s, Uppermill, led the service.
The Royal British Legion’s wreath was laid by ATC officer Patrick Diamond with Delph Band performing the music.
In DOBCROSS a Remembrance March took place through the village accompanied by Royal British Legion representatives with the standard, before a service at Holy Trinity Church where the names of villagers who sacrificed their lives were read out. Rev Christopher Halliday and Dobcross Youth Band led the service.
A parade featuring uniformed services and members of Hope Methodist church started from Failsworth Community Centre, Ashton Road, to FAILSWORTH war memorial on Oldham Road, where around 3,000 people gathered.
Father Miles Howarth, of St John’s Church, who led the service, said: “It went very well and we were blessed with the weather. It was an excellent attendance.”
In CHADDERTON a procession featuring veterans went from Chadderton Reform Club, Middleton Road, to the war memorial in the old town hall gardens, Middleton Road. Around 400 people attended and the parade returned to the club for refreshments and entertainment.
Rev Alan Cooke, of St Mark’s Church, conducted the service with wreaths laid by local councillors, representatives of forces organisations and members of the public.
Rev Cooke said: “Everything went very well and it was a very good turnout.”
There is a temporary inscription on the war memorial honouring those who died in conflicts since the Second World War, which the Royal British Legion has long campaigned for. It will be replaced with a permanent inscription in the spring when the Grade II listed memorial undergoes an £8,000 overhaul to clean and repair it.
At WATERHEAD, Rev Paul Monk led a service for around 90 people at St Barnabus Church followed by around 110 people attending his service at Holy Trinity Church and walking to the cenotaph at Huddersfield Road to lay wreaths.
A multimedia presentation told the story of Sapper Fred Schofield, one of the soldiers who lost his life in the war, at GREENACRES Congregational Church.
Rev Neil Chappell led the service with scouts taking part in a parade. Rev Chappell said: “It went very well and the two-minute silence was excellently observed. It was a very good attendance of around 90 people, the best for a while.”
Father David Hawthorn, supported by Father Simon Sayer, conducted a service at St Margaret‚s and St Chad’s Church, for the Association of HOLLINWOOD churches, which includes Beulah Baptist and United Reformed Church, Limeside and Millgate Methodist Churches, Holy Family and Corpus Christi. Hollinwood War Memorial is in the grounds of St Margaret‚s, where around 150 people attended with wreaths laid on behalf of the Mayor, uniformed services, Labour and the Lib-Dems. Rev Tony Grant led a service at Holy Trinity Church, BARDSLEY, before the congregation joined with Keb Lane Methodist Church to be led by Uppermill Brass Band in a parade to Bardsley War Memorial, where around 170 people attended.
A procession assembled at Thomas Street before proceeding to the war memorial in LEES cemetery. Over 30 people attended a service at AUSTERLANDS War Memorial. A former member of the Parachute Regiment laid the wreath on behalf of Saddleworth Parish Council.
Councillor Derek Heffernan led the service and Ian Bennett read the words of “They will not grow old”.
