Memorial lit up for first time in a century as part of Remembrance tributes

A neglected war memorial has been painstakingly restored by volunteers and lit up for the first time in its 104-year history ahead of Remembrance Day.

The Grade II* listed Hoylake and West Kirby monument has been transformed thanks to 14 years of renovations by the Friends of Grange Hill and Wirral Borough Council.

The spectacle is just one of a range of colourful tributes and events ahead of Remembrance Sunday across north-west England.

They include a striking display of thousands of poppies and crosses on a roundabout in Leigh, Greater Manchester, while Poulton-le-Fylde in Lancashire, has a displayed more than a 1,000 yellow poppies to honour "forgotten heroines" who served their country.

The Hoylake and West Kirby restoration project began in 2012 after a visitor tried to bring his father, a military veteran, to the memorial but found access virtually impossible.

Years of neglect had left the site overgrown while the site's remembrance garden had almost disappeared.

It inspired residents to set up the Friends of Grange Hill group which led the restoration of the memorial and ensure it was accessible to all.

The landmark, which is perched on the highest point in West Kirby, will once again play a central role in community commemorations as it hosts West Kirby's Remembrance parade.

But, for the first time, wreaths laid in honour of the fallen will be illuminated in the evening by new bespoke lighting.

Derek Longman, chairman of the group, said it was a "proud moment".

"What began as a small group of volunteers determined to rescue a neglected landmark has grown into a remarkable community effort," he said.

"The new lighting scheme is not simply about illuminating a monument; it is about ensuring that the sacrifices commemorated here remain visible and remembered by future generations."

Meanwhile, in Leigh, a busy roundabout near the Sports Village has been transformed into a Remembrance war memorial.

Led by the Reeva Programme community interest company, the roundabout has been decorated with about 1,800 poppies and 1,000 white crosses, with four soldier figures in the centre of the display.

The Woodland Makers group, which provides social events for veterans and emergency service leavers, produced the memorial with help from other community groups including schools and local Army and RAF cadets.

Elsewhere, the Women of Wyre's Women's Institute organised a tribute to the Canary Girls, described as the "forgotten heroines" of both world wars, with Poulton-le-Fylde railway station and nearby St Chads Church decorated with more than a thousand yellow poppies.

Peta Edwards who is the Lancashire ambassador for the Canary Girls Support Group, said the display would hopefully raise awareness of the million women who "made bullets and mixed chemicals with their bare hands" at home during the conflicts.

The munitions workers earned their nickname as their skin was often stained yellow by toxic chemicals as they risked their lives and limbs to supply ammunition to the frontline.

"The Canary Girls were an amazing group who aren't recognised anywhere," Edwards said.

"They were a beacon for us all and represent the spirit of the UK."

She praised the local community - including Poulton's Knit and Natter group - for "pulling out all the stops" to make the 1,300 yellow poppies in time.

Meanwhile, Lymm Rocks group has joined forces with local community groups to paint 300 rocks to line the pathway of St Mary's Church in Lymm, Cheshire, for Sunday's Remembrance parade.

The rocks also feature 139 names from the Royal British Legion Lymm roll of honour.

The rocks will be displayed as the parade walks into and out of church for the service and then will be hidden locally for others to find.

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