ICI memorial to be unveiled

A newly-restored memorial commemorating Thornton workers who died fighting for their country is set to be officially unveiled early next month.
Dignitaries including  Wyre Councils Armed Forces champion Coun Terry Rodgers are expected to attend a public service early next month, when the newly-restored ICI memorial will be officially unveiledDignitaries including  Wyre Councils Armed Forces champion Coun Terry Rodgers are expected to attend a public service early next month, when the newly-restored ICI memorial will be officially unveiled
Dignitaries including Wyre Councils Armed Forces champion Coun Terry Rodgers are expected to attend a public service early next month, when the newly-restored ICI memorial will be officially unveiled

A public service will be held at the ICI memorial at Four Lane Ends in Thornton from 11am on Saturday, October 10.

Work to restore the memorial, which is separate from the town’s main cenotaph, is almost finished, Wyre Council said.

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The names of 59 workers from the firm, who died during the First and Second World Wars, are also being displayed accurately for the first time ever.

Dignitaries including  Wyre Councils Armed Forces champion Coun Terry Rodgers are expected to attend a public service early next month, when the newly-restored ICI memorial will be officially unveiledDignitaries including  Wyre Councils Armed Forces champion Coun Terry Rodgers are expected to attend a public service early next month, when the newly-restored ICI memorial will be officially unveiled
Dignitaries including Wyre Councils Armed Forces champion Coun Terry Rodgers are expected to attend a public service early next month, when the newly-restored ICI memorial will be officially unveiled

Historian Eric Curbishley helped correct mistakes in some of the names after the council, which took on the responsibility for the memorial earlier this year, appealed to The Gazette’s readers for help.

Wyre Council’s Armed Forces champion Terry Rogers said: “I’m delighted this project, originated by David Baxter and local groups Friends of Thornton Little Theatre and The Windmill Players, has reached fruition and I’m very pleased to support such a worthy cause.

“All those involved are very grateful for the assistance received from Paul Deacon at Wyre Council for his tireless voluntary work as part of the Wyre Armed Forces Covenant Team, company representatives in the area, librarians, the curator of Fleetwood Museum, and the public.

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“It shows how important ICI was to this district and how the people living here now will not forget those who gave their lives in the two world wars.”

Councillor Terry Rogers.Councillor Terry Rogers.
Councillor Terry Rogers.

The monument was originally sited at Hillhouse Business Park before being moved in 1997.

The council pledged to restore it as part of its First World War commemorations after taking on ownership from Akzo Nobel, which took over ICI in 2008 and sold part of the company to Henkel.

The work was funded by Wyre Council, Lancashire County Council, and Azko Nobel, while NPL Estates paid for new paving.

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Next month’s service will see several dignitaries in attendance, as well as former-ICI employees and members of the Armed Forces.

The heritage of ICI can be traced to the opening of salt works at nearby Burn Naze by the United Alkali Company in the early 1890s. It became ICI at the Hillhouse site in the 1920s, with many of its workers took up the call to arms during the two world wars.

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