Blackpool WW1 memorial stone saved by council worker
- Published
The tablet was saved and relocated to Fylde Memorial Arboretum thanks to the council's grounds maintenance gardener
A memorial stone honouring 38 men who died fighting for their country has found a new home thanks to the determination of a council worker.
The tablet, inscribed with the names of Blackpool men killed in World War One, was saved after the demolition of Marton Methodist Church.
It was removed from the Midgeland Road grounds of the former church Blackpool Council staff intervened.
The stone has now been relocated to the Fylde Memorial Arboretum in Bispham.
Steve Harvey, from the council's waste disposal company Enveco remembered seeing the memorial stones when he spent time at the church when he was young.
He got in touch with the site's owners, Melrose Investments, and Paul Binns, chairman of the Fylde Ex-Services Liaison Committee.
A setting was created by Capt John Jones from Fylde Memorial Arboretum Community Woodland.
Jez Evans, operations director at Enveco praised Mr Harvey, the firm's grounds maintenance gardener.
"Steve's commitment to pursue the safekeeping of memorial stones when Marton Methodist Church was sold, cannot be understated to preserve the names of Blackpool residents who lost their lives in the Great War.
Blackpool Council is trying to reunite other memorial stones with the families they belong to
"Enveco and Blackpool Council have a strong relationship with the Fylde Memorial Arboretum volunteers who tirelessly maintain the community woodland memorials."
The additional stones have been handed to the Arboretum for safekeeping but the aim is to return these to family members.
The names inscribed on the stones are:
The Leeming family
Mr and Mrs J.R. Cookson
John and Emma Parkinson
Mr and Mrs John Hallam
Mr John W Cardwell
Mr W Carr
Thomas and Betty Cardwell (of Cropper)
Elizabeth Ann Haworth
Mrs E.D. Denbigh
James Chapman
It is now hoped other memorial stones which had stood in the church grounds can be reunited with the families to whom they are linked, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.
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