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from The South Manchester Express, Thursday November 12, 1998

PASSIONATE PLEA TO SAVE WRECKED WAR MEMORIAL

by Alan Charnley

EX-servicemen made a passionate Anmistice Day plea yesterday for funds to repair a vandalised war memorial they fear will be lost unless repaired urgently.

But Manchester City Council, which admits responsibility for its upkeep says it cannot afford repairs, estimated at around £10,000.

Old soldiers who just last Sunday attended a moving Remembrance Sunday at St Margaret's Church, Burnage, feel bitter that the lychgate outside the church is now endangered.

The memorial was built by public subscription to honour First World War dead.

Concern is shared by Canon Alan Pugmire who said: "Despite repeated efforts, no progress has been made on the repair of the lychgate.

"Because it is a War Memorial in memory of Burnage people who died in the 1914-18 war, the upkeep of it is the responsibility of Manchester City Council."

One World War Two veteran said: "It would be dreadful if this memorial was lost forever. People need special places like this to remember war dead."

Another, former airforceman Bert Cooke, who attended Sunday's Remembrance ceremony at St Margaret's warned: "If something isn't done quickly then the whole structure will fall apart.

"The grateful people of Burnage provided this beautifully carved lychgate as a permanent reminder of brave young sacrifice.

"Now youths have almost wrecked it.

"Two wooden statues of a soldier and sailor that were either side have been stolen and the wooden gates probably went on a bonfire. The roof has had tiles pulled away and a large piece of woodwork has been pulled away and the structure now leans."

Canon Pugmire said the church, the Manchester Diocese and Manchester Council had met several times - even at the lychgate.

He said: "Everyone involved has tried to be helpful. A scheme was drawn-up but did not get included in the city council programme from 1998-2001."

He added: "A newly-formed organisation Friends of War memorials has also shown interest.

"Although they are keen to support repair of the Lychgate they are not able to give any substantial help from their limited resources.

"It looks like being a long time until repairs"

Coun Kath Robinson, deputy chairman policy and resources, said: "The memorial is our responsibility and we are aware of the poor state of repair.

"However, it is competing with lots of other priorities in the field of social services and education in a shrinking capital budget and I will continue to argue for it when the capital allocation comes around."

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