VOLUNTEERS have been helping to pave the way for a long-awaited new memorial building and heritage centre.

 

Work at Knowsley Cemetery in Whiston was undertaken by volunteers from the community who worked to clear the site in preparation for building to start before helping out with grave levelling, turfing and creating hanging baskets.

 

The Whiston Initiative in Cultural Heritage (WICH) group has been working hard in organising events to raise money for the memorial building, raising £80,000, also receiving help from VINCI construction to the value off £35,000.

 

Construction is scheduled to begin in the coming weeks so to coincide with National Volunteer’s Week the volunteers, formed as part of the Wates Group’s ‘Reshaping Tomorrow’ week got involved.

 

When complete, the memorial building will feature many of the original features from the demolished Victorian workhouse chapel at Whiston Hospital, including stained glass windows and stone work.

 

It will also provide a place of quiet reflection for those visiting the cemetery and feature a heritage exhibition and a unique computerised book of remembrance.

 

Cllr David Williams, Vice President of WICH, said: “Knowsley Council has been working closely with WICH, partners and local businesses to enable the centre to be built and provide a unique space for cemetery visitors.

 

“We hope we will see all of the hard work coming to fruition in the coming weeks and are very grateful to our volunteers who have given their time and their great efforts to prepare the site for building work to begin.”

 

Volunteers included workers from Wates Construction, who are working on Prescot’s Community Fire and Police Station and young people from the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service’s Prince’s Trust programme.