Tranmere Rovers FC ‘wall of silence’ blamed for failure to hold final Ingleborough Field memorial service

Nov 9 2012 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Echo

CAMPAIGNERS today claimed a wall of silence from Tranmere Rovers FC has prevented them from holding a final Remembrance service on memorial fields to be developed for housing.

Protesters lost their battle to block planning permission for Tranmere (TRFC) to use the Ingleborough Field in Birkenhead for up to 90 houses.

Following their defeat they have asked Tranmere for permission to hold a final service on the site this Sunday, describing it as their “last chance” before the field is developed.

But the club has failed to either approve or deny the request.

Ingleborough was the playing fields for the Birkenhead Institute and those opposing the planning application said they are now a memorial to 88 old boys of the school – including the poet Wilfred Owen – who died in World War I.

Surviving old boys said they wanted to lay a wreath there on Remembrance Sunday and hold a short service, but their spokesman Dean Johnson said Tranmere had not responded to their request.

He has now written to club chairman Peter Johnson.

He said: “When we contacted the club today we were told 'the gates will be open on Sunday, the chairman is away but nobody has said no'.

“But we are aware the field is private property and to enter without permission would be trespassing.”