Council boss issues bombing memorial call (From Warrington Guardian)

Council boss issues bombing memorial call

1:00pm Wednesday 31st October 2012 in News

“WE have taken a path which should not be forgotten but revisited.”

Clr Mike Hannon’s rallying call for commemorative events to mark 20 years since the Bridge Street bombings left a council meeting moved.

The deputy council leader spoke of the impact and response of the borough to the IRA attack back on March 20, 1993 at a full council meeting on Monday.

He said: “On March 16 next year we will commemorate and celebrate 20 years since the bombing in the town centre.

“There are many who were not part of this council at the time and even one councillor who was only three when it happened.

“A great deal has happened since that Warrington can be proud about.”

Among the ideas for the day of commemoration is a minute silence at the time the bomb struck and the council also wants to track down the children who contributed to the designs on the River of Life memorial on Bridge Street.

Clr Hannon also called on schools to look at reintroducing the impact of the bombing into the curriculum to help make a difference to future generations.

“We need to keep the past alive,” he added. “What I hope we have achieved is a long lasting legacy for our children’s children.

“It has been a sad occasion but Warrington has responded in a positive way. We have to value what we have done over that 20 year period.”

Clr Sheila Woodyatt (CON - Lymm) told the meeting about an encounter while she was in Northern Ireland for a conference.

She said: “I got chatting to a taxi driver and he said where are you from?

“I said Warrington and he said ‘That’s Tim Parry’s town’.

“It just shows how much the people in Ireland have appreciated what we have tried to do.”

And Liberal Democrat leader Clr Ian Marks (LD - Lymm) added: “When the history books are written about this what happened was a significant event for reconciliation.”