Calling Leigh's Veterans

I will be hosting my annual Veterans Lunch on Friday, 6th November 2015 at Leigh Miners’ Welfare Institute commencing at 12noon.

The annual event brings together veterans from across the Leigh Constituency as well as veteran organisations.

Following my campaign to raise awareness of the HM Armed Forces Lapel Badge all recipients of the badge will receive a personal invitation, but the event is open to all HM Armed Forces veterans in the Leigh Constituency and a nominated guest on a first come first served basis.

To confirm attendance please call Andy’s constituency office on 01942 682353 or email my office.

I know that veterans across the community look forward to attending, catching up with comrades and to remember the contribution and sacrifice of all those who have served their country across the globe. I hope that this small gesture will show Leigh’s appreciation for the valuable service our local veterans have given and continue to give to local life.

2014 Veterans Luncheon

Pic with the Mayor of Wigan & the Fred
Longworth School Brass Band.

Today I hosted my 9th Annual Veterans Luncheon at Leigh Miners Welfare Institute.

Attended by over 150 local veterans I paid tribute to the contribution and sacrifice of veterans across the Leigh area.

Entertainment was provided by the award winning Fred Longworth School Brass Band with food supplied by Clapham's Bakery.

It is a fitting tribute to the men and women here today that we commemorate the service and sacrifice of our Armed Forces at home and abroad and especially as we remember the outbreak of WWI 100 years ago. It is important that they are thanked for their contribution to their country.

Veterans Luncheon 2014

Pic. Veteran Luncheon 2013

I am pleased to announce that I will be hosting the 9th Annual Veterans Luncheon on Friday, 7th November 2014 at Leigh Miners Welfare Institute, Off Twist Lane, Leigh commencing at 12noon.

Veterans of HM Armed Forces who reside in the Leigh parliamentary constituency can confirm attendance by email or by calling my constituency office 01942 682353.

For catering purposes the last date for receipt of applications is 31st October.

The event will also mark the centenary of the outbreak of World War I and entertainment will be provided by the award winning Fred Longworth High School Brass band.

Veterans Luncheon on eve of Remembrance weekend.

Pic with Mr Joseph Partington and the Mayor

I today hosted my annual Veterans Luncheon at Leigh Miners Welfare Institute.

Now in its 8th year, over 150 veterans and guests attended the luncheon and tucked into food supplied by Claphams Bakery and Leigh Sainsbury’s.

Joining me was the Mayor and Councillors representing wards in the Leigh area.

Alderman Tom Sherratt acted as MC for the day and attendees enjoyed a wonderful performance by the Brass Band of Fred Longworth High School.

The luncheon was also the opportunity to reflect on the 60th anniversary of the Korean War armistice in 1953. Over 82,000 British servicemen fought in the War and more than 1,000 died in the conflict held during the Cold War period.

I was also honoured to present a HM Armed Forces Veteran Lapel Badge to Mr Joseph Partington, aged 79 of Rutland Ave, Lowton who served in the Army during the 1950s.

It is always fantastic to see so many of our veteran community all together on the eve of this very special weekend when we remember those who paid the ultimate price for the freedoms we all enjoy today.

Veterans continue to play a special role in our community and today is a thank you to them for all that they have done and continue to do in the service of our country.

An invitation to Leigh's Veteran Community

I will be hosting my annual Veterans Luncheon on Friday, 8th November 2013 at Leigh Miners’ Welfare Institute commencing at 12noon.

Now in its 8th year the event brings together veterans from across the Leigh Constituency as well as veteran organisations. Over 150 veterans attended the 2012 event.

I have written to veterans across the constituency but am conscious that there will be veterans who do not receive a formal invite and I am keen to raise awareness of the event. Veterans can confirm their attendance by calling my office on 01942 682353 or by email here.

I know that veterans across the community look forward to attending, catching up with comrades and remembering the contribution and sacrifice of all those who have served their country across the globe.

I hope that this small gesture will show Leigh’s appreciation for the valuable service our local veterans have given and continue to give to local life.

Veterans Luncheon

Today, I hosted my annual Veterans Luncheon at Leigh Miners Welfare Institute. This event, now in its 7th year was attended by over 130 local veterans and the first citizen of the Borough, the Mayor Cllr Myra Whiteside.

Special thanks to Waterfields Bradshawgate branch, and the Leigh ASDA store for proving the catering and to the staff of Leigh Miners for once again supporting this event.

Pupils from Lowton CoE High School provided musical entertainment and  I was delighted to present a HM Armed Forces Veteran Lapel Badge to Mr Colin Lancaster of Buck Street who served in the Army Pioneer Core between 1960-62.

This weekend I will join with the whole community in commemorating the contribution and sacrifice of our armed forces and especially, those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Annual Veterans Lunch

Mr John Seddon 

On Friday, 11th November I hosted my annual Veterans Lunch at Leigh Miners Welfare Institute, off Twist Lane.

Over 150 veterans joined with me to commemorate the contribution and sacrifice of Leigh's brave service personnel who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

It was also a time of celebration, to pay thanks to the huge contribution that veterans make to the life of our town and I was especially pleased to present Mr John Seddon with his HM Armed Forces Lapel Badge to mark his contribution to his country in the RAF during the 1960s.

I was pleased to welcome the Mayor of Wigan, Cllr Joy Birch to the lunch and ward councillors from across the Leigh constituency.

I am very grateful to Richard Waterfield of Waterfield's Bakery and the new Leigh Tesco store for providing lunch and to the teachers and pupils of Lowton J&I who performed a selection of songs on the day.


Lowton J&I School

Finally, I want to also thank Leigh Miners for hosting the event which has been its home for the past seven years.

Arrangements are in hand already for the 2012 event which will be held on Friday, 9th November 2012.

I will be hosting a Veterans Luncheon on Friday, 11th November 2011 at Leigh Miners’ Welfare Institute commencing at 1pm.

Now in its sixth year this annual event brings together veterans from across the Leigh Constituency as well as veteran organisations.

This year the event will take on special significance given that it will be held on the anniversary of the signing of the armistice. The armistice was signed between the Allies and Germany at Compiègne, France. This led to the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front, which took effect at eleven o'clock in the morning—the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" of 1918.

Following my campaign to raise awareness of the HM Armed Forces Lapel Badge all recipients of the badge will receive a personal invitation, but the event is open to all HM Armed Forces veterans in the Leigh Constituency and a nominated guest on a first come first serve basis.

To confirm your attendance please call my constituency office on 01942 682353.

I know that veterans across the community look forward to attending, catching up with comrades and to remember the contribution and sacrifice of all those who have served their country across the globe.

I hope that this small gesture will show Leigh’s appreciation for the valuable service our local veterans have given and continue to give to local life.