A CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER

A Christmas to Remember

On Saturday 13th December, Chris Eaton and Abby Scott will be in concert at St. Michael and All Angels Church, Middlewich at 7:30pm.  The Middlewich Festival Choir, based at St. Michael’s, will also be taking part. 

The evening will be a very special concert which will commemorate 100 years of the Great War and also celebrate the ultimate Peace and Hope of the Greatest Promise given to us at Christmas through the birth of Christ.

Chris Eaton is a contemporary Christian singer-songwriter who has recorded his own albums and also written songs for numerous artists: he wrote “Saviour’s Day” the 1990 Christmas number 1 for Cliff Richard.  

Chis has written a new song called ‘1914 , The Carol of Christmas’ and it has been recorded by an ensemble of military voices and soloists. It is to be released as a single to raise money for the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, and ABF The Soldier’s Charity. 

Chris says: "My hope and prayer is that my song '1914, The Carol of Christmas' will move and inspire all generations as they listen, to remember with honour and respect  those, past and present, engaged in war, and be filled with hope for everlasting peace through the message of Christmas!"

The song will be available for download on iTunes from 15th December with 100% of the profits from the sale of the single going to the three charities. 

Tickets for the concert cost £7.50 for adults and £5 for concessions with refreshments included.  All proceeds will be donated to St. Michael’s Restoration Fund.  Tickets are available from the Church Office at No. 28 Hightown or by calling 01606 619721.

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THE MIDDLEWICH DIARY

LEST WE FORGET...

Photo: Stuart Warren-Twigg. Reproduced with permission

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WE WILL REMEMBER THEM... (ARCHIVED 2014)

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Remembrance Sunday in Middlewich 2013

A time once again for quiet reflection in this eventful Centenary year as the people of Middlewich come together in the middle of the town to remember the fallen.
The procession leaves the Royal British legion Club in Lewin Street at 10.30am, and those taking part are asked to be at the Club before 10.20.

This post also appears on The Middlewich Diary

11 o'clock on the morning of Remembrance Day, Sunday November 9th 2014 and the people of Middlewich pause to remember the Fallen, a century after the start of the Great War

A REFLECTION FOR REMEMBRANCE...

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EDWARDIAN MUSIC HALL EVENING AT MIDDLEWICH TOWN HALL (ARCHIVED)

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LINK: ONLINE GUIDE TO MIDDLEWICH AND THE GREAT WAR EVENTS

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Facebook Feedback

Sheila McLeod I went to the music Hall Cabaret evening last night with the Buttered Muffin Theatre Company. All I can say is what a brilliant evening of entertainment! There was close-up magic at the tables, singing, juggling, comedy and music. Old school stuff, I know, but it was a wonderful nights' entertainment

Suzanne A Johns I totally agree!. The best I've been to in a long time

Sonya Edwards People don't know what they missed. I haven't laughed like that for a long time. A very good evening. When people say that nothing happens in Middlewich, they must be walking around with their eyes shut! Roll on the weekend for more entertainment!

Val Prince Two twelve-year old boys had a great evening too! They loved the magic tricks at the table. A brilliant night!

Cllr Bernice Walmsley I agree - great evening! I find that when friends from other towns visit they are all amazed at how much goes on in our little town, and the variety too.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Kerry Fletcher writes:

We're still on the look out for volunteers to cover the Middlewich and the Great War event on 4th and 5th October, duties include stewarding, meet and greet, handing out leaflets and directing visitors to the various sites. 

The more the merrier! 

Call us on  01606 833434
or email heritage@middlewich.org.uk

WINSFORD SALT FAIR 2014

Winsford Salt Fair/Winsford Town Council

Once again this year the Mid-Cheshire salt towns are coming together to celebrate their common heritage and this week our close neighbour, Winsford, is in the spotlight with the second annual Winsford Salt Fair. There's plenty going on in the town and on the River Weaver.

For obvious reasons, the focus this year is on the centenary of the Great War. Middlewich comes into its own in this regard on the 27th September with an Edwardian Music Hall at the Town Hall and on the 4th and 5th October with the Great War Weekend itself.
Details of the Middlewich events will be featured here from next week

Meanwhile Nantwich Museum  is presenting 'A Celebration Of Salt - the Story of  Brine in Nantwich' and invites you to take a tour of this ancient salt town.

Links:

www.winsfordsaltfair.com
www.middlewich-heritage.org.uk
www.nantwichmuseum.org.uk

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VETERANS: FROM WORLD WAR 1 TO AFGHANISTAN (BBC RADIO 1)

Here is a link to a BBC Radio 1 documentary, first broadcast on the 4th August 2014 on the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the Great War and featuring the voices of those who have served in the British Army in Afghanistan together with archive recordings of veterans from the Great War.
The aim of the documentary is to show what aspects of war have changed over the years and what remains the same.
One of the voices heard is that of Pte Luke Hardy of Middlewich who did three tours of duty in Afghanistan, telling us just what it was like to serve as a member of the 3rd Parachute Regiment in the recent conflict. .

VETERANS: FROM WORLD WAR I TO AFGHANISTAN (BBC RADIO 1)

NOTE: THE BBC RADIO 1 LINK IS CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE. WE WILL BE PROVIDING AN ALTERNATIVE LINK SOON. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.

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Since returning from Afghanistan Luke has started training to be a paramedic. He also works hard on behalf of HELP FOR HEROES.

100 YEARS ON...

Photos by Cliff Astles

On the 4th August 2014 at 2pm the people of Middlewich came together in the town centre for a short service to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of the Great War and to remember the fallen.

Among those in attendance, along with members of the public,  were the Mayor and Mayoress of Middlewich, representatives of the Royal British Legion and Town Crier Devlin Hobson who read his own poem about the War.

Middlewich's War Memorial was erected in 1934 by public subscription and originally placed at the junction of Lower Street and Hightown where once stood Butcher Lees shop (later to be converted into a bank) and the large gas lamp where our  Town Crier  of the time would have stood to announce the outbreak of war on the 4th August 1914.

Middlewich Town Centre  in the years leading up to 1914. (Courtesy of Kath & Barry Walklate)

The verse:

Through all eternity their names shall bide,

Enshrined as Heroes who for Empire died.

was written by Charles Frederick Lawrence, former Clerk to the Middlewich UDC and local historian.

With the demolition of the properties on Hightown in the early 1970s and the building of 'the piazza', the Memorial was moved a few yards further toward the Parish Church, and retained that position to within a few yards when the current 'amphitheatre' was built. Thus it has only been moved a short distance in the 80 years of its existence.

The original dedication of Middlewich's War Memorial by the Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire and the Bishop of Chester, November 18th 1934. PHOTO: PAUL HOUGH COLLECTION

Crowds watching the procession in Wheelock Street  on 18th November 1934 . Note the White Bear sign on the extreme right PHOTO: PAUL HOUGH COLLECTION

Town Crier Devlin Hobson was on hand to mark the occasion by reading his own poem, which is reproduced below with his permission.

Devlin Hobson

Remembering the fallen

Cllr Paul Edwards, Mayor of Middlewich, lays a wreath on behalf of the Town Council and the people of Middlewich

Wreath Laying

Photo added 7th August 2016

Many thanks to CLIFF ASTLES
                              DEVLIN HOBSON
                              MIDDLEWICH TOWN COUNCIL
                              MIDDLEWICH ROYAL BRITISH LEGION
                              GERALDINE WILLIAMS
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LIGHTS OUT - 4th AUGUST 2014 (ARCHIVED)

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A nationwide tribute to the fallen of the Great War at 10 o'clock tonight, 4th August 2014

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION: LIGHTS OUT

MIDDLEWICH REMEMBERS (ARCHIVED)

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Today, August 4th 2014 at 2pm, there will be a short service of Remembrance to mark the day exactly 100 years ago when Britain became involved in the Great War.
Town Crier Devlin Hobson will be there to read a special proclamation marking the occasion.

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MEMORIAL SERVICE (ARCHIVED)

ARCHIVED

Suzanne A  Johns writes:

 There will be a short (5 mins) Remembrance Service at the War Memorial at Middlewich (Bull Ring) on Monday, August 4th, at 2.00pm to mark the centenary of Britain's Declaration of War. 
It is hoped that there will be many of you in attendance.

CONTACT DETAILS

Kerry's contact details are:

Tel: 01606 833434

e-mail heritage@middlewich.org.uk

or you can contact us at

The Middlewich Diary
5 Whitley Close
Middlewich
CW10 0NQ

Tel: 01606 833404

e-mail middlewichdiary@aol.com

and we'll pass the information on.

INTRODUCTION TO THE MIDDLEWICH AND THE GREAT WAR PROJECT

'MIDDLEWICH AND THE GREAT WAR PROJECT'

by Bernice Walmsley, Mayor of Middlewich
(based on a speech made by the Mayor at the launch of the Middlewich And The Great War project in October 2013)

Photo taken at the launch of the project at Middlewich High School in October 2013

This year will mark one hundred years since the beginning of the Great War.

The war was created partly by uneasy alliances, but more so by an aggressive Germany which took radical action over the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

This action led to the outbreak of war in August 1914, the first shot being taken on the 22nd of that month.

The Great  War was dubbed 'the war to end all wars' and caused considerable loss of life, extensive damage to Europe, and great hardships for the populations involved.

This project not only remembers those who fought and worked so hard for victory and peace, but also looks to the impact this era had...the role of women in society, medical advancements and scientific discoveries to name a few.

In Middlewich there is plenty of documentary evidence of our town in wartime.

Documents such as the Roll Of Honour, minute books of the schools and MUDC, papers relating to families, newspapers and war records of the red Cross.

Resources can be found via the town's cenotaphs, photographs and medals plus many more...

One hundred years on the impact of the war can still be felt. It changed Britain and its communities forever in so many ways.

Many people may not realise the significance of the Great War and its legacy to modern life.

So let's take this opportunity for Middlewich Schools, community groups, churches and residents alike to explore and research this important era.

We will learn what we can, add portraits to the names listed in the Roll of Honour, and develop ways of bringing what we learn together in a community event, for the community, by the community.

Middlewich Town Council will hold a heritage event on the 4th and 5th of October.

This is a community challenge to all to think of acts of commemoration of the Great War and its era and, through research, workshops and networking, producing a method of delivery for our residents and visitors to come along and see.

Delivery could be a display at the event, artwork, written work, drama, music, even a show, competition nor, perhaps, a celebration of your own society in the Great War era.

Taking part in this project is a fantastic way to remember those who gave so much and a chance to showcase your own societies and establishments.

If you're interested in taking part in our town's Great War project please get in touch and work with us to produce the biggest Middlewich event yet!

Cllr Bernice Walmsley
Mayor of Middlewich
2013-2014

If you're not already involved, and would like to be, you can contact Kerry Fletcher on 01606 833434, or email her on
heritage@middlewich.org.uk

-Ed

COSTUME IDEAS FOR THE GREAT WAR WEEKEND

Here, courtesy of Kerry Fletcher, are some suggestions for authentic costumes if you're planning to take part in the GREAT WAR WEEKEND or any of the other Great War related events planned in Middlewich this year

MIDDLEWICH AND THE GREAT WAR POSTER

MIDDLEWICH AND THE GREAT WAR