We should be honouring these young lads. They served and they made the ultimate sacrifice”
John Herbert with the fenced off Scarisbrick World War 1 Memorial, at The Venue (Village Hall)(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
A much-loved First World War Memorial is at risk of being removed after trustees of a village hall raised concerns about public safety. The monument is located on the grounds of The Venue in Scarisbrick, West Lancs, and was funded by the local community.
As part of the agreement to situate the monument, Scarisbrick Parish Council said it would maintain it and take responsibility for its upkeep. However, the trustees of the village hall claim the council has failed in its duty and said they have issued a removal notice.
John Herbert is a resident of Scarisbrick and was actively involved in setting up the memorial in 2014. The idea was to add to the other two memorials in the parish which – located on the grounds of a Catholic church and an Anglican church – and provide a non-denominational space where everyone would feel comfortable visiting.
After some meticulous researching, John and his colleagues found there were 65 Scarisbrick residents who died during the First World War – half of those had not been named on the existing memorials.
John Herbert with the fenced off Scarisbrick World War 1 Memorial, at The Venue (Village Hall)(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
John said: “We examined a series of sources including regimental records, newspaper reports and stuff like that. We also managed to get hold of personal items such as letters and photographs and we finally decided to create a book to further commemorate the sacrifice of those men. You can find that in the local churches and in the library.
“Scarisbrick isn’t blessed with much public open space, but the village hall was such an area and a place which was held in trust and actually registered with the Charity Commission. The area we looked at was perfectly placed and lay just underneath some beautiful cherry trees. It is a nice, pretty spot which felt appropriately respectful.”
“The parish council on their part gave an undertaking to maintain the memorial, but I would stress here, this wasn’t the parish council’s memorial. This is the community’s memorial.
“For nine years, the memorial has stood in pride of place and is registered with the War Memorials Trust, which can be accessed at the Imperial War Museum. It was also installed in accordance with guidelines from the National Association of Monumental Masons.
“This was all done in order for the community to honour its war heroes – in a building that they funded and which is held in trust for their benefit – the threat of removing that is just wrong.”
The Liverpool ECHO understands the village hall trustees issued a formal notice to the parish council on July 11 and gave it 28 days to remove the memorial. Scarisbrick Parish Council’s, Cllr Chris Berks said: “At the time when the monument was installed, there was an agreement between the parish council and the village hall trustees that the parish council would maintain the monument and the path, so that the community can benefit from it being there.
John Herbert with the fenced off Scarisbrick World War 1 Memorial, at The Venue (Village Hall)(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
“Unfortunately, it looks like the village hall are now intending on removing the memorial. However, the parish council would seek to resolve this amicably with the trustees of the venue and we’re actively seeking an agreement so that we can repair the path and restore the monument back to its original condition.
“The parish council is committed to doing that. There’s absolutely no reason why we would do anything other than maintain that that memorial as originally agreed and we will do whatever is required to achieve that.”
The ECHO contacted the chair of trustees for the Scarisbrick Village Hall (known now as ‘The Venue’) and was directed to the notice served to the parish council – made public on social media – and a note displayed near to the war memorial. Stuck to the metal railings put up around the monument, the note states: “This beautiful monument was placed here to remember the sacrifices of all of our past and present members of the armed forces.
“At the time it was placed by Scarisbrick Parish council they promised to maintain the monument and path. Despite repeated requests for the path to be fixed it has now become a serious safety issue with most of the flags cracked, uneven and able to be lifted away from the floor completely.
“The charity trustees have sent letters and emails to Scarisbrick Parish council but have not yet had any acknowledgement or reply, so we have had to spend our own time and money erecting a safety fence to prevent any member of the public injuring themselves.”
The note adds: “Our primary concern has to be safety, but since having cameras installed, we have noticed the monument gets next to no visitors and have suggested it should be somewhere it is seen everyday by lots of people so our armed forces can be remembered all of the time as they should be.
John Herbert with the book, In Memory of The fallen of Scarisbrick 1914-1918.(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
“We understand there will be people who disagree with our actions but would these same people be happy if they or a member of their family injure themselves on this path?”
For John Herbert, the details of the impasse are secondary and must be resolved because the memorial is too important to be lost. John said: “I know that the public were never consulted if they wanted their memorial removed from the grounds, which are held in trust for their benefit for which they raised the funds. Not word one.
“I do know the anger those people are now feeling.
“My personal feelings have gone through a whole gamut. First of all, I saw the the notice and my first reaction is, I don’t believe this. I was incredulous. It’s a little bit going through the process of grief in a lot of ways. Disbelief to start with, then anger, real anger. I’ve gone beyond that now, and it’s a feeling of sadness.
“The fact that memorials exist reflects the values and the priorities of the community that erected them. We should be honouring these young lads. They served and they made the ultimate sacrifice to safeguard the freedom we now enjoy. What does it say about us if that memorial is removed. Who is anyone to say it must be removed.”