MEMBERS of Kingsley Players will be performing popular wartime songs at a fundraising concert for a wildflower walk.

The memorial walk at Norley was created by Norley Wildlife Group in memory of local men who died in The First World War.

The three-mile walk features plaques to the men, surrounded by wildflowers and poppies.

The Players are to perform at a fundraiser organised by the wildlife group at Norley Village Hall on Saturday, September 12, to raise money for flower seeds to sow this autumn for next year’s memorial walk.

Members of Kingsley Players will be performing First World War songs, poems and sketches inspired by the 1969 musical Oh! What A Lovely War at the fundraiser, which is called It’s a Long Way To Tipperary.

The concert starts at 5.45pm, with the first half consisting of First World War poems read by Norley residents and Weaver Vale MP Graham Evans, and the second a performance by the Players, including audience participation in the singing.

Kingsley Players chairman Lynn Pegley is directing the Players’ part of the evening, and will be reading a poem she wrote called Voices of the Norley Fallen, to end the first half.

Wildlife group chairman Phil Gifford asked Lynn to write a poem to mark the memorial walk.

“I went to see the first rehearsal of the performance by the Kingsley Players, and it is really amazing,” said Phil.

“The poetry recital and concert will truly be a most enjoyable and memorable family event, and there will be a singalong at the end.”

Tickets are £7 for adults and £3.50 for children, which includes tea and cakes and scones provided by Norley WI.

There will be a raffle, and the concert and recital are preceded by a free guided walk around the memorial trail, starting at 3pm, led by wildlife group members.

Afternoon tea will be served in the village hall at 5pm with the WI’s help, and the raffle will be drawn at the interval at 6.15pm.

Tickets are available by ringing Mr Gifford on 01928 787217, or from The Stores from September 1.

Voices of the Norley Fallen - 

Our ghosts walk the Norley lanes,

Flaxmere, Hatchmere, down Hambletts Hollow,

woods echo with our boyhood games,

young lovers who were never loved,

our children who were never born.

 

Balls bowled in carefree fun,

barely flipped and touched the darkening clouds,

before flying to our hands as bombs and guns.

Not heroes, no, not really brave, we marched away

with trembling hearts to play our part.

 

Just cruel chance etched our list of names,

chose widows, orphans, grieving kin

and marked our card for the loser’s game.

Our bones lie scattered by the winds of war,

our place now marked by plaques and stones.

 

Remember your sons, your Samuel, your John,

Arthur, Jesse, Arthur, your Edward and Sam,

Christopher, Heber, Roly, Wilfred and Tom.

A century of dawns warmed Cheshire’s clay

but missed our corps and left us cold.

 

Yes, mourn our loss as you stroll the lanes

and smell the poppies red with blood.

Give thanks for your lives, the peace

we brought and fight each day

with warrior words for war to cease.