'Lost' Darwen war memorial to go on display

10:00pm Tuesday 22nd January 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Dan Clough, Reporter

Stonemason Brent Stevenson works on the memorial Stonemason Brent Stevenson works on the memorial

A FORGOTTEN memorial to people killed during the First and Second World Wars is being restored and will be put up in a prominent Darwen town centre location.

The memorial is in tribute to fallen members of the former National United Services Club, where Bar Java now stands in Green Street. The original club closed in 1985.

The memorial was found by the then owner of The Railway pub in Railway Road in the cellar and for the past four years the memorial had been sat in an office at Darwen Library.

But now it will be put up somewhere near the town hall in Croft Street.

Town councillors in Darwen discussed the disused memorial during their meeting earlier this month and had since investigated having it restored.

The work is now being carried out by Blackburn stonemason Brent Stevenson.

The memorial – about three feet by two feet, and made of white marble and weighing 30lbs – was yesterday in the process of being repainted and when completed it will be white with black letters for the names of the deceased.

Whitehall town councillor John East said he had taken on the project following the meeting.

He said: “I am really pleased it is moving now.

“It is important that we preserve our heritage here in Darwen.

“These memorials should not be lost.

“I am delighted Brent Stevenson has volunteered his services to repair it.

“This is yet another success for Darwen Town Council.”

Mike Coyle, Lancashire representative of the War Memorials Trust, said he was delighted the memorial was being put back on display.

He said: “It is great that another piece of Darwen’s heritage is being restored.

“Up and down Lancashire there are still lots of memorials under threat or lost.

“It is wonderful to see one being brought back into use.”

Comments(11)

Excluded again says...
6:31am Wed 23 Jan 13

Why do you think it is clever to desecrate a memorial to th dead?

These people gave their lives fighting for their country. It is right that this memorial is restored and displayed.

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A Darener says...
8:18am Wed 23 Jan 13

2 for 5p wrote:
IDEA:

Looking for somewhere to put it, shame the cannal doesn't pass through Darwen you could of chucked it in there.
Better still let's chuck you in.

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RupertsReason says...
8:53am Wed 23 Jan 13

2 for 5p wrote:
IDEA:

Looking for somewhere to put it, shame the cannal doesn't pass through Darwen you could of chucked it in there.
If you were burning alive I wouldn't waste my bodily fluids trying to save you.
You truly are low life.

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useyourhead says...
9:58am Wed 23 Jan 13

2 for 5p wrote:
IDEA:

Looking for somewhere to put it, shame the cannal doesn't pass through Darwen you could of chucked it in there.
While your on here the goats are crossing your bridge you know.

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Councillor Duncan says...
11:29am Wed 23 Jan 13

(former councillor) It is important that these memorials are preserved and maintained and congratulations once again to DTC for preserving an important part of something that is not only of historical interest to the town and the families of those who gave their lives but also the whole of the country. It is an important reminder to future generations of those who gave their lives so that they could be free, and also the terrible sacrifice that often goes hand in hand with war. The other good news is that it is made from marble to will not be stolen to be melted down as scrap!

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InMemoriam2014.org says...
2:01pm Wed 23 Jan 13

It's great to see everyone working together to preserve this important part of history. So kind of Brent Stevenson to volunteer his services so that people can pay their respects to those that made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Well done!

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grumpyoldlady says...
2:18pm Wed 23 Jan 13

Do you remember when you were at school and there was always one complete moron who couldn't open his mouth without saying something stupid. Nobody wanted to sit next to him in class nor wanted him on their side in team games? Well he now calls himself "2 for 5p). I rest my case.

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walkaround says...
3:06pm Wed 23 Jan 13

So sad these people died fighting for their country just so years later morons like 2 for 5p can claim benefits and troll on this website!

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amazed says...
5:31pm Thu 24 Jan 13

Obviously 2 for 5p wants to be naughty, babyish and wanting to see other peoples reaction to his/her trash.
I wonder if this individual would take the same line if their father/mother or grandparent's name appeared on the memoriial. Maybe he/she has no relatives and is just bitter and twisted and feels deprived?
We do not need people like this in our area - get lost!!

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TRUENEWS8874 says...
9:29am Fri 25 Jan 13

I FOUND THIS MEMORIAL OVER 4 YEARS AGO
I HEARD THIS STORY FROM AN EX MEMBER OF THE UNITED SERVICES CLUB AND DECIDED TO START A SEARCH FOR IT ,IT TOOK SEVERAL MONTHS TO FIND NOTHING ,THEN DARWEN LIBRARY CONTACTED ME TO SAY THEY HAD IT UNDER A DESK IN THEIR OFFICE
A LOT OF THE MEMORIAL IS MISSING BUT THE IMPORTANT PART (THE NAMES ) IT WAS SURROUNDED BY SCROLL WORK AS IN A ROLLED UP PARCHMENT DOCUMENT AND 4 FIXING BOLTS THAT WERE MADE OF GUNMETAL WITH THE EXPOSED ENDS SHAPED TO THE LANCASHIRE ROSE
COUNCILLOR PAUL BROWN TOLD ME THAT THE BLACKBURN WITH DARWEN COUNCIL HAD PROMISED TO PLACE THE MEMORIAL IN THE THEN BEING BUILT SPORTS CENTRE (WHICH IS ONLY 50 YARDS FROM ITS ORIGINAL HOME)
TWO YEARS LATER ON INQUIRING ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO THE MEMORIAL PAUL BROWN SAID “THE COUNCIL VETOED THE IDEA AND YOU WILL HAVE TO TAKE IT UP WITH THEM
I THEN SENT AN E-MAIL TO MY COUNCILLOR CONWAY, HE DID NOT REPLY AND NOW, MUCH TO MY SHAME I LET IT GO
I AM GLAD THAT IT IS GOING TO BE RESERECTED

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louderfasterlonger says...
11:01am Sat 26 Jan 13

TRUENEWS8874 wrote:
I FOUND THIS MEMORIAL OVER 4 YEARS AGO I HEARD THIS STORY FROM AN EX MEMBER OF THE UNITED SERVICES CLUB AND DECIDED TO START A SEARCH FOR IT ,IT TOOK SEVERAL MONTHS TO FIND NOTHING ,THEN DARWEN LIBRARY CONTACTED ME TO SAY THEY HAD IT UNDER A DESK IN THEIR OFFICE A LOT OF THE MEMORIAL IS MISSING BUT THE IMPORTANT PART (THE NAMES ) IT WAS SURROUNDED BY SCROLL WORK AS IN A ROLLED UP PARCHMENT DOCUMENT AND 4 FIXING BOLTS THAT WERE MADE OF GUNMETAL WITH THE EXPOSED ENDS SHAPED TO THE LANCASHIRE ROSE COUNCILLOR PAUL BROWN TOLD ME THAT THE BLACKBURN WITH DARWEN COUNCIL HAD PROMISED TO PLACE THE MEMORIAL IN THE THEN BEING BUILT SPORTS CENTRE (WHICH IS ONLY 50 YARDS FROM ITS ORIGINAL HOME) TWO YEARS LATER ON INQUIRING ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO THE MEMORIAL PAUL BROWN SAID “THE COUNCIL VETOED THE IDEA AND YOU WILL HAVE TO TAKE IT UP WITH THEM I THEN SENT AN E-MAIL TO MY COUNCILLOR CONWAY, HE DID NOT REPLY AND NOW, MUCH TO MY SHAME I LET IT GO I AM GLAD THAT IT IS GOING TO BE RESERECTED
Perhaps you could write to DTC and ask to be involved in the unveiling.

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