Mystery donor for Chorley Pals memorial statue

11:44am Friday 4th July 2008

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A memorial statue to the Chorley Pals Regiment has moved a giant step towards becoming a reality.

Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle this morning announced that a mystery donor had pledged £65,000 to pay for the statue, which will be sculptured by Preston artist Peter Hodgkinson in honour of the men who left the town in February 1915 to fight in the First World War.

Mr Hoyle, along with First World War historian Steve Williams, also revealed what the statue, which it is hoped will be erected in Chorley town centre in July 2009, will look like.

But before the statue can be erected, £35,000 needs to be raised for the plinth and Mr Hoyle is appealing to the people of Chorley for help.

He said: “We are delighted that we are moving forward with this and it is an historic day. But what we need now is one final push to raise money for the plinth.

“The Chorley Pals left Chorley on 23rd February 1915.

"The majority never returned after taking part in the Battle of the Somme.

"The fact that no memorial to these brave men has ever been erected is an injustice that we are now putting right.”

Sister Francis Calderbank, whose father Private Henry never returned, was at the announcement, which took place at the historic Astley Hall.

She said: “I think that it is wonderful. I never knew my father and my mother never spoke of it, I learned a lot of what I know from my sister.

“We have been to the Somme a few times and it is very moving but I think this will be a fitting tribute to the Pals for people in Chorley to remember what they did.”