We Will Remember Them

The Mayor of Westhoughton, Cllr Gillian Wroe, attended a special service at St John the Evangelist Church, Wingates. She writes: ‘It was an honour and a pleasure to attend the service at St John’s Church for the dedication of the new First World War Memorial Board. In a moving service, led by Rev Carol Pharoah, the names of the 45 men from Westhoughton who lost their lives in that war were read out by Tom Heavyside. It was Tom and his late wife Olivia who were the driving force behind the installation of the board as a lasting tribute to the fallen. At the start of the service 45 tealights were lit on the altar and during the service the last post and reveille was played by a bugler from Wingates Band. Also taking part were members of St John’s Church, pupils Luke and Harriet from The Gates School and Jimmy and Martin from the Royal British Legion. The Memorial Board will stand as a reminder of the sacrifice of those men and their families for many years to come.“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.” ‘