RE-DEDICATION OF SPENBOROUGH WAR MEMORIAL - JUNE 2009

The re-dedication of the War Memorial was held on Armed Forces Day 2009. The Ceremony was conducted by The Bishop of Pontefract, Rt Rev Tony Robinson assisted by Father Peter Smith, Rev Keith Pratt BA MEd and was attended by many other dignitaries, including The Mayor of Kirkleees Cllr Julie Stewart-Turner, the Deputy Mayor Cllr Andrew Palfreeman, Major General Jonathan D Shaw CBE, Lord Shaw of Northstead JP, DL and Lady Shaw, Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire Mrs Jane Gummer MBE, JP, and the Member of Parliament for Batley and Spen Mr Mike Wood.

Also present were Kirklees Councillors Andrew Pinnock, Kath Pinnock, Ann Raistrick, Derrick Yates, David Hall, Margaret Bates DL and Roger Roberts.

The Royal British Legion County President for South and West Yorkshire, Mr Robert Mortimer was accompanied by the President of Spenborough Branch Mr John Walker DFC and the Chairman Mr Edward Morton.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service Band led the procession and marched from Cleckheaton Town Hall to the Memorial Park, where a moving Ceremony was conducted by the Bishop of Pontefract.

The Branch took the opportunity at the Re-Dedication Ceremony, to add the names of seven members of the Armed Forces from our local area to the Memorial who had lost their lives in conflicts since 1945 to date. The families of these Service Personnel laid wreaths.

Wreaths were also laid by the various dignitaries.

Children from West End Middle School gave a stirring choral performance conducted by their teacher Alison Branson.

Major General Shaw took the salute as the procession marched through Cleckheaton town centre back to the Town hall.

The pictures below show the wonderful day had by the people taking part and the support given by the people of Spenborough.