Trustees, staff and volunteers have a busy few weeks in May promoting the project, aimed at raising money to place the names of the fallen from the town around the Cenotaph in Astley Park.
Chorley Cenotaph
We launched an appeal in the Spring to raise some £20,000 and have already raised £2,300 – with one Chorley church recently donating £200.
Project Manager Nikki Davidson-Kerr and Chorley Pals Memorial Trustee and local historian, Steve Williams, will be staffing a gazebo at the ‘Picnic in the Park’, on Sunday, 15th May. Less than a week later they will be at the Cuerden Valley Fair in Cuerden Valley Park in Bamber Bridge on Saturday, 21st.
Commenting on the events, Mrs. Davidson-Kerr said “we see this as a first step in raising the project’s profile and engaging with the people of Chorley. We want to tell them what we are up to and get their views, as well as getting them involved and supporting us financially”.
Historian Steve Williams meanwhile will be giving an illustrated talk at Cunliffe Hall in Chorley on Friday, 20th May. The event aims to raise funds for the project and will take the form of a talk entitled“Pals, Terriers and Tommies” – all about Chorley men who fought in the First World War. Tickets are £12.50 and this includes a two course meal; they can be obtained from Steve Williams on 01254 854298 or from any branch of Chorley Building Society.
Both Steve and Nikki will be visiting the Somme battlefield at the end of May as part of a coach trip organised by Mr. Williams. The four day trip will visit the Chorley Pals trenches and plaque in the trenches at Serre and the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing on the Somme where so many Chorley men are commemorated. Wreaths will be laid at both venues and the trip will also visit the grave of Chorley VC winner, James Miller who was killed on the Somme on the 30th July 1916.
Commenting on a busy time for the project, Steve Williams says “It has always been our plan to raise the project profile from May onwards. We also have three events in Chorley during July and will have quite a bit of information to get out over the summer months”.
An application for funds to complete the project will be made to the Heritage Lottery Fund at the end of June, with a decision expected some three months later.
Information and updates can be found on the website or by calling the Project Office on 01257 235000; donations can be made into the Chorley Remembers Memorial Appeal account at the Chorley Building Society.
