STALYBRIDGE’S war memorial will be extended to include the hundreds of missing names.
The Correspondent has told over many years of the efforts to make sure everyone from the town who paid the ultimate sacrifice is honoured on the Trinity Street landmark.
Local historian Kate Booth has has been leading the quest to update the structure, along with Peter Edwards of the Royal British Legion.
After she found some 300 or so names of Stalybridge men born in Stalybridge who were killed on the front line, Frank Harrop, of the Friends of Stalybridge War Memorial, did a lot of work verifying them.
That includes Kingsman Sean Dawson and Fusilier Jory Etchells, who bpth went to Carrbrook’s Buckton Vale Primary School.
Now that dream looks like becoming a reality after the money appeared to be found in the form of some £5.8 million of City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) reprioritisation funding from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), which also provides ‘headroom’ in Levelling Up Fund money.
Now detailed design work on the scheme, which would cost £450,000, has been completed, with support from The Friends of Stalybridge War Memorial.
They, along with Tameside Local Studies and Tameside Council Operations and Greenspaces officers, have helped compile the final list of missing names from World War One.
Now the intention is to start work in early 2027 with completion by that summer 2027, and councillors spoke of their delight.
Stalybridge South’s David Tilbrook welcomed the move at a full council meeting on Tuesday, October 6.
He said: “I’d like to place on record how delighted I am that money has finally been allocated to complete the war memorial.
“There are many names missing – men and women who have given their lives for this country – so myself and other councillors, past and present, have been pushing for this funding for quite a long time.
“I’m glad to see it’s finally in place.”
Stalybridge North’s Christine Beardmore added: “Past and present councillors have been working very hard for this.
“The war memorial is a place very dear to many people in Stalybridge’s hearts. It’s a fantastic piece of public realm and to use the money we have to make a lasting memorial to the 300 missing is very good.”
Tameside Council’s leader, Stalybridge/Dukinfield Cllr Eleanor Wils, commented: “As a Stalybridge ward member, I remember more than 10 years ago Peter Edwards coming to me talking about trying to generate some money to get this done.
“So to see it’s now underway is absolutely laudable. I certainly know Peter is very, very happy about it.”