By Steve Williams on Tuesday 11th June 2013 
My first visit to the battlefields in France and Belgium was in 1992 when I took my father back to the beaches of Dunkirk he escaped from in early June 1940.
It would be another ten years, in 2002, before I returned – I have been going ever since, and lost count of the times I been to the Somme, Ypres, Dunkirk, Dieppe, Normandy, Arnhem, Bastogne…. the list goes on.
Last week I was on the Somme laying a wreath at the Chorley Pals plaque in the front line trenches at Serre where the Pals attacked on the morning of the 1st July 1916.
I was pleased to see that pupils from Parklands High School had been there recently. A school party from Hampshire were there as well and a few stopped to chat. “Yes”, they said, “we know all about the Chorley Pals, they were part of the Accrington Pals; we’ve been on your website”.
 That last comment about the Internet brought things home to me.
There was I taking a picture of the wreath with my iPhone, ready to put it on Facebook and Twitter for the whole world to see.
On the same device (with far greater computer power than the one in Apollo 11 that landed men on the moon), I can photograph, communicate, find out the weather, see maps, access my bank account, listen to music and even use it as a torch.
I began to wonder what the Pals would have made of such a small device? Communication on the battlefield was down more to men acting as “Runners” than telephone or morse lamp – what would they have done with texts, I thought?
Also, it took over a week for details of the casualties to come from the Somme in July 1916 – they began to be published on a noticeboard in Chorley Town Hall and a week later in the Chorley Guardian; would the families wished to have received information from the battlefield almost in real-time?
After the Pals trenches, my wife and I had a trip around the Somme and Cambrai battlefields, before heading off to ‘Le P’tit train de la Haute Somme’ - a preserved, narrow-gauge railway that transported men and materiel back in 1916. A visit to Claude Monet’s garden at Giverney was well worth the trip, before we headed for a few days in Rouen where, ironically, the British burnt Joan of Arc at the stake in May 1431.
A day was spent on the Channel coast at Fecamp and Etretat. At the former, I wandered around the remnants of Hitler’s “Atlantic Wall” from 1944, before heading to Etretat to lay a poppy cross on the grave of Chorley Pal, Private James Makinson. He was wounded on the Somme on the 1st July 1916 and died of his wounds eight days later at a hospital at Etretat.
In the parish church can be found a large plaque to the men from the town who fell in service of their country - underneath it included the phrase “et des soldats de l’Armee Britannique inhumes dans le cimetiere”, remembering also the men from the British Army buried in the cemetery.
Made me think a bit about the debate on Europe – as did a pleasant chat to a German gentleman at breakfast the following morning who was born in 1946 (I didn’t ask, but his father probably fought mine in the War).
Is it worth going to the Somme or Normandy when we have Facebook, Google Earth and YouTube?
Well, for me, there is no substitute for standing where Chorley men fought and died, and paying my own respects – their sacrifice enabled me the freedom to be there, as well as share it via Facebook (thanks to them and all those who “followed me”).
By Steve Williams on Tuesday 28th May 2013 Is a Degree essential? Apparently you have got to have the right qualifications and experience these days to get on. Really?
Now call me old fashioned (even at my tender age of 60) but the only ‘degree’ that has helped me over the last three years build two war memorials and deliver a new exhibition is a degree of common sense.
 Part of the one of the exhibits at the new Chorley Remembers Experience Asked recently what my secret is, I said “passion”, “common sense” and “energy”. You can’t run or work on a project if you don’t have all three. If you don’t believe passionately in the job you are doing, then get out and find a new one.
What’s the secret of presenting things? - visually it is BCL - “balance”, “colour” and “light” (see how Department Stores present products and ‘dress’ their counters). As for presenting things in written form, it is KISS - “keep it short [and] simple” (see Ronseal – “it does exactly what it says on the tin”).
They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. I must admit that I have learnt quite a few things over the last year or so from Politicians and Staff at Chorley Council, as well as from exhibition contractors Heckford’s from Preston; hopefully they will have learnt something from me.
Working in some industries, trades or buildings can lead to people being very insular and not very tolerant of “outsiders”. I come from a commercial world and a marketing background – communication, passion for my ‘product’ and energy to get the job done: are my skills “transferrable”?
I have enjoyed researching and ‘dressing’ the exhibition, finding out about the history of people and artefacts. When you see a photograph or learn about a person who gave his life for his country, it puts things into perspective.
You don’t need “the right qualification” to pay the ultimate sacrifice, do you?
By Steve Williams on Friday 2nd November 2012 They say that a week is a long time in politics, well not being a politician I can’t really comment. However, a day at the Chorley Remembers project is never dull.
Take today (Friday, 2nd November). It started early with a combined Chorley Pals Memorial Trustees and Chorley Remembers project team meeting. Discussed everything from progress with the new War Memorial in Astley Park through to who is to manage the project on a day-to-day basis after our Project Manager left earlier in the week, with two month’s to go on her contract. Guess who got the job? No problem, it is a labour of love for me – just like “old times” doing the Pals Memorial in 2010.
 Just some of the damage caused to the plinth and benches, believed to have been caused by skateboards or scooters Came out of the meeting to be told by Chorley Council Officers that there was some damage to the newly refurbished Chorley Pals Memorial site, including the plinth to the memorial itself – apparently it has been caused by skateboarders. I hope people don’t think that every skateboarder is as irresponsible or disrespectful as those who chose to use a war memorial as a playground or to show off their ‘skills’; I thought there were skate parks around the Borough?
Headed home for a brisk walk, then off to a meeting regarding interpretation boards about the Royal Ordnance Factory at Euxton, now the Buckshaw Village. Called in at the War Memorial site in Astley Park just as the contractors were leaving for the weekend; pleased with the progress. Chorley Council staff were taking down our banner at the park entrance, erecting their own to promote the town’s Christmas Lights switch-on (Christmas? not thinking about that, yet). Went to Chorley Library to collect items displayed in the cabinet there during October. Early evening, had a Skype call with our webmaster to Facebook and Tweet the damage story. Ordered a new 0845 telephone number for the charity and project (0845 467 1916), and called it a day – not forgetting to fill in my “Activity Sheet” so that Trustees and the Heritage Lottery Fund can see what I’ve been up to.
Next week beckons, ending with Remembrance Sunday – but that, as they say, is another week; thank goodness I don’t do politics, it could be a long one.
Steve Williams
By Steve Williams on Monday 19th March 2012 One of my many jobs on the project is to confirm the names to be added to the new panels to go behind the current War Memorial cross in Astley Park. Since the New Year, research has confirmed eight names to be added to the list – it is now approaching the 700 mark.
A bit disappointed that a couple of people think we can add all the names from Chorley Borough (villages and all) onto the proposed 16 panels; that would mean over 4,000 names on something like 72 panels and virtually quadruple the cost (besides duplicating names already on village / parish memorials). I was pleased to confirm to one Chorley lady this week that her relative, Private William Farnworth killed in 1916 is on the list; further research showed he worked on Chorley Railway Station (as did Chorley Pal casualty, Joseph A. Thompson).
 Brinscall War Memorial I was delighted to see the name of Private James Sykes MM, who was killed in WW1, added to Brinscall village War Memorial recently. Back in 2010, Barbara Pearson from Wheelton, a relative of James Sykes, got in touch with me.
Contrary to what was in a local press article, I did all the research for her and she joined me on my coach trip to northern France in May 2011 to pay respects to the brave soldier from Brinscall; he has no known grave but is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial on the Somme battlefield.
Early this year Barbara contacted me again to see if his name was to go on the new memorial panels in Astley Park, but coming from one of the outlying villages he did not qualify. Instead, I put Barbara in touch with Brinscall Parish Council. I was happy to help Barbara and she has sent me a very nice thank you e-mail.
I had started doing the book about the project but other elements have meant it has been put down my list of priorities; probably not get published now until 2013. Researched and designed an illustrated talk about the Royal Ordnance Factory down at Euxton; not much left to see now that it is under the new houses and commercial units Buckshaw Village.
Lots going on behind the scenes; won’t leave it so long before I do another blog.
Steve Williams
See also:
- Chorley Council: Name of war hero added to Brinscall cenotaph
By Steve Williams on Wednesday 20th April 2011 Marketing & PR – How important is it today?
I have been involved in sales and marketing for 40 years, learning ‘on the job’ and from experience, rather than from a text book. It was not until a few years ago that I obtained my Institute of Marketing qualification and found it ‘interesting’ to be the “senior” student on the course – even old enough to be the father of the course tutor! However, the way to market a product, service or brand remains the same – the terminology has changed since I started back in the early 1970s!
When I eventually reached the heady heights of Sales & Marketing Manager for a leading Japanese brand, I said to my staff “If you have nothing good to say, don’t say nothing at all”. It is the same with the project, currently - we (in particular our Project Manager, Nikki) are busy beavering away ‘behind the scenes’ getting all the necessary information, quotes and plans ready before we ‘go public’, so to speak.
Despite what may be reported in the local press , we have not finalised plans for any element of our project (be it the Cenotaph, Astley Hall, etc.) – nor are we ‘leaking’ details or “stories” for some quick and easy publicity. When we are ready, we will consult with all interested parties and the good people of Chorley (as we did with the Pals Memorial, back in 2009). We obviously have to consult with Chorley Council and I have been encouraged with the level of co-operation we are receiving from the Town Hall and down at Astley Hall.
On the project marketing and publicity front, we are set for a busy May. We will be at the ‘Picnic in the Park’ in Astley Park on Sunday, 15th May – it is in conjunction with the 90th anniversary celebrations of the Royal British Legion, nationally. Less than a week later, on Friday 20th May, we are having a fundraising event at the Cunliffe Hall in Chorley by way of a dinner and talk – more details soon. Finally in May, we will be at the Cuerden Valley Fair at Cuerden Valley Park near Bamber Bridge on Saturday, 21st May. Our aim is to publicise our project and “engage” with people - that’s the modern idiom for talking to people….. but sometimes it’s more important to listen!
Back to marketing, etc. Every business or organisation has “customers” - they may have different names (members, audience, shoppers, visitors, taxpayers, voters) but they are still people who are important to those bodies – without them you don’t have a business (or a project). Marketing and PR is how to interact with your customers, old or new. You have to work on your image and message – PR is not just about press releases and having your picture in the paper.
Repeating things over and over again is fine but after a while people treat it as “background noise” or dismiss it altogether. Fortunately, the message of remembrance is still valid today….. “Lest we forget”. Whilst our project uses the phrase “We will remember them, will you?”, it is not about us constantly banging on with the same ‘old’ message but aimed at getting everyone, young and old, to think and then act. I am biased, but effective and well delivered marketing and PR is how to achieve that aim.
The ‘old’ phrase “You can’t sell if you don’t tell” is as valid today as it was when I started in marketing (only the terminology is different).
By Steve Williams on Thursday 25th November 2010 November is always a busy and emotional month, especially around Remembrance Sunday.
Last year I was in bright sunshine at Ypres in Belgium on Remembrance Day itself, the 11th November, but this year the rain lashed down for most of the time spent in the Belgium town.
Fortunately the following day saw some respite, allowing visits to trenches, bunkers, memorials and cemeteries on the Ypres Salient battlefield where so many from Chorley and Lancashire fell during the First World War. For the record, I hope to be back at Ypres on Remembrance day next year.
On the Continent, they pay their respects at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the eleventh month, to coincide with the signing of the Armistice which ended hostilities of the First World War; historically, the war did not officially end until the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on the 28th June 1919.
 Chorley Pals Memorial trustee Lindsay Hoyle lays a wreath at the memorial on Remembrance Sunday I managed to get back to Chorley for Remembrance Sunday and was proud to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph in Astley Park on behalf of the Chorley Pals Memorial. Joining me was Nikki Davidson-Kerr, the Project Manager of the Chorley Remembers project.
An hour later we watched Lindsay Hoyle MP lay a wreath at the Chorley Pals Memorial on the Flat Iron; thanks to all those who joined us to witness the simple five minute ceremony.
I took a photograph of Lindsay laying the wreath and it was used by the Chorley Guardian as the centre piece of the Remembrance Sunday coverage of events at Chorley and Leyland; however, I understand that one local Politician has complained to Chris Maguire, the Editor, about the coverage.
Personally, I think we should remember every day (not just once a year) all those men and women who laid down their lives in conflicts over the years - without their sacrifice we would not be free to lay wreaths or comment to newspaper Editors.
“At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them”.
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That last comment about the Internet brought things home to me.
