A LEADING cleric has appealed to a community’s conscience after shameful graffiti was daubed on an iconic cenotaph overlooking Saddleworth’s villages.
The landmark Pots and Pans memorial, which commemorates those who died in two world wars, has been damaged and defaced by vandals.
Now Saddleworth’s Team Vicar, Rev John Rosedale, Chaplain to the local Royal British Legion and a former RAF officer, has issued a heartfelt plea to restore the Grade Two listed cenotaph.
Mr Rosedale, 60, said: “My heart goes out to those hurt by the behaviour of those responsible for the vandalism.
“I’m especially concerned for those who have a family member named on the memorial, and I hope we can, in the near future, find a way of returning the memorial to its former glory.”
Taking a sideswipe at vandals whose names have been scrawled on the memorial, he added: “Our memorial has been desecrated.
“Rather than through an act of heroism or personal sacrifice, they have notoriety through a wilful or a thoughtless act of vandalism.
“They have highlighted the need for us to take action and ensure the memorial and surrounding fencing is cared for and well maintained.”
Diana Terry, who has been researching historic stained glass windows in Oldham and Saddleworth, said: “I was shocked by the graffiti.
“These vandals’ names are immortalised along with the dead of world wars and are large enough to see from some distance. There are other defacements on the name plaques too.
“These tablets are in effect graves, commemorating the loss of life that occurred in those wars.
“Some marks have been there some years and weathered sympathetically but in this centenary year it would be fitting that they are remembered with respect.”
Saddleworth Parish Councillor and former RAF squadron leader, Rob Knotts, from Austerlands, said: “It’s unacceptable that mindless vandalism prevails on such a monument.
“Perhaps we need to have a protective set of railings built around the monument. It certainly needs some restoration work.
“The vandalism is not only insulting to the memory of servicemen remembered but to the Saddleworth community as a whole.”
Cllr Neil Allsopp added: “I’m disgusted, sickened and outraged at the desecration of Saddleworth’s Pots and Pans memorial.
“Who are the scum who defiled this precious monument? Do you know them? Then you must do what is right and ‘turn them in’. They are vile, nasty individuals who deserve to be punished.
“I’m certain, not only many Saddleworth people share my feelings but also decent people everywhere.
“This wasn’t an act of “mindless” vandalism. This was deliberate. They are the scum who smash bus shelters, damage cars, fire air-gun pellets at loving pets.
“Is there a fund we can access to urgently, yet sensitively, repair this iconic piece of Saddleworth’s history and landscape? Failing that, can we organise a campaign to have the memorial restored and preserved for the next hundred years.”
Councillor Barbara Brownridge, OMBC’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Cooperatives, said: “We take our role as custodian of all our memorials very seriously and it is important all sites across the borough are well-maintained and accessible to the public.
“This is heartless wanton vandalism at a public site in memory of people from the borough who sacrificed their lives for this country.
“We will look at ways in which we can repair the monument.”
Please inform Oldham Council on 0161 770 4067 if you spot any culprits of vandalism.
You must be logged in to post a comment.