Atherton Cenotaph Memorial Project

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For some years now the Atherton Branches of the Royal British Legion and the Royal Naval Association have been lobbying for improvements to be made to the Cenotaph which stands on an impressive site situated at the southern entrance to the town.

 In February 2004, Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council announced that land adjacent to the Cenotaph, which had been assigned for the use of the citizens of Atherton by Lord Lilford, would be made available for an extension to the Cenotaph site. A considerable area of land has been allocated for conversion into a memorial garden to honour citizens of the town who gave their lives in the two Great Wars and subsequent world-wide conflicts.

 Atherton proudly boasts one of the largest turnouts in the Metropolitan area on Remembrance Sunday, with considerable participation by local veterans� organizations and it is particularly gratifying to note the involvement of local schools and youth groups such as the Scouts and Guides. Theirs is the generation that will ensure that our local history will continue to be appreciated and the sacrifice of ordinary local citizens respected well into the future.

 A group of local people drawn from local ex-Service organizations, Wigan Council, schools and local councilors met for the first time in February 2004, under the auspices of the Atherton Township management.

 Proposals were requested for a project to be initiated in an attempt to get things under way as soon as possible, with some fundamental work targeted for completion before the Remembrance Day Parade and Service to be held on Sunday 14~ November 2004.

 Jointly, the Royal Naval Association and the Royal British Legion came up with positive proposals for the conversion of the site, which were accepted by the other members of the co�ordinating group as an operational basis for the project to commence.

 It was obvious that a considerable amount of funding would be required to achieve the goals set within the proposals. However, it was felt that with positive commitment from the co�ordinators, council, schools, local businesses and the citizens of Atherton, the ambition to convert the site into an outstanding memorial to our town and its fallen veterans was an achievable concept.

Web Site Designed and maintained by S/m Lindsay Boyle.   Branch Chairman of the Atherton Branch of the Royal Naval Association