The 75th anniversary of VJ Day, 15th August 2020 was made even more poignant for the residents of Sandiway and Cuddington as their war memorial containing the names of the fallen from the two world wars was officially dedicated by Lord Grey of Codnor, President of Cheshire County Royal British Legion and Lady Grey of Codnor, National Vice President Royal British Legion women’s section, in a short ceremony officiated by Rev Ruth Mock of St John the Evangelist Sandiway.
Sandiway and Cuddington have not previously had a war memorial as St John the Evangelist was originally built as a chapel of ease to St Mary the Virgin Church in Weaverham and so shared its war memorial. Sandiway became its own Parish in 1935 therefore St John the Evangelist Church became independent of St Mary the Virgin, however, didn’t have its own war memorial. Local resident Jill King has written a fascinating book ‘Our Sacrifice’ which details the 32 lives lost from the Parish within the two world wars, the book has proved invaluable for researching the project.
The project has been a decade long dream for Pat Chrimes who led the project as resident but is a member of Sandiway and Cuddington Royal British Legion and former National Chairman of the Royal British Legion women’s section and is also the Chairman of Cuddington Parish Council. Previous Parish Councillors have been instrumental in bringing the dream to reality too,
Former Parish Councillor Steve Chivers set up a go fund me page and commenced fundraising for the project several years ago. Legally, the Royal British Legion and the Parish Council cannot build the memorial but they are permitted to maintain it so all involved have been representing themselves as residents, Now complete, the war memorial will be maintained by Cuddington Parish Council.
Pat Chrimes approached Cllr Gillian Edwards, Weaver & Cuddington Ward, Cheshire West and Chester Council and following a site meeting with CWAC Officers, Pat, Cllr Edwards and Graeme Robinson from Amazing Gardens set to work approaching local businesses and organisations to ask for their assistance and were totally overwhelmed by the support that they received from, Ark Café, Cheshire West and Chester Council and Councillors, Cuddington Parish Council, Instamac Products, London Stone, PLP Construction Ltd, Ringway Infrastructure Services Ltd, Vale Royal Lions Club, Weaver Vale Housing Trust and Whitby’s Memorial Services.
In October of 2021, Pat was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen’s Birthday 2020 Honours List, for services to Ex Forces.