We hope to take key step towards a memorial to brave Spanish Civil War volunteers in Blackpool

The organisation behind the aim to have a memorial set up in Blackpool to honour those from the resort who volunteered to support the Spanish people in the Spanish Civil War meets on Tuesday to decide the next step.

Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Trades Union Council, a member of which, Dave Blacker, who had an uncle who was among the volunteers, has launched the campaign and it hopeful it will be successful, just over a year on from a similar memorial being established in Burnley.

The memorial aim is being backed by a leading member of Blackpool Council and the TUC hopes that help make the aim a reality. 90 years on from the start of the conflict in Spain, which ran from 1936 to 1939.

Lancashire men were those from across the world who joined the International Brigade as volunteers to defend the democratically-elected Spanish government from a right-wing coup in 1936 led by Spanish General Francisco Franco.

The Blackpool TUC has the names of 11 participants from the local area to appear on the memorial.

They are James Kenny, James Mann, Maurice Stott, Harry Sutcliffe, Claudian Howarth, Conrad Singer/Zingher/Zhingher, Derrick Boon, Michael Clarke, William Cooney, Frederick Cronshaw, William Halliday.

Cllr Neal Brookes, Deputy Leader (People) of Blackpool Council, has confirmed his support for the plaque.

He said: “Recognising the role played by local people, or people with a connection to Blackpool, with the International Brigade in the Spanish Civil War is important, to honour the sacrifices made during the conflict. Many of these people were WW1 veterans who chose to leave home again to stand up for something they believed in.

“I’m all in favour of Blackpool TUC’s proposal.”

A Blackpool TUC spokesman said: “We’ll be discussing it at our next meeting on Tuesday and hopefully decide the next step.”

“It is important to preserve the memory of those brave volunteers”