New petry book from memorial field campaigners

Sep 12 2012 by Liam Murphy, Heswall News

A NEW collection of poems inspired by the row over Tranmere Rovers’ planning application to build homes on a memorial field in Wirral has been published.

Respect The 88 refers to the 88 old boys of the Birkenhead Institute school who were killed in World War I.

Campaigners opposed to Tranmere’s plans to build on the field say it was left as a “living memorial” to those who died, including famous poet Wilfred Owen.

The booklet contains contributions from the Wirral itself, right across the country and as far afield as Australia.

The publication of the poetry booklet coincides the with launch a new poster campaign in which “Green Not Greed” posters will be distributed around the Prenton Hall Estate that borders the threatened field.

There is also now a Facebook page, and campaign leader Dean Johnson said: “Our last poster campaign Heroes not Houses was very successful, but now the residents around the field are a lot more aware of the facts, it will be interesting to see the response.

“We have changed the caption of the poster to highlight the UK's success at the Olympics and disposing of a playing field does not fit well with the Olympic legacy of ‘inspiring a generation’ to take up sport.”

Respect The 88 can be bought at the Wilfred Owen Story exhibition, 34 Argyle Street in Birkenhead, or ordered direct from the publisher from their website at www.poshupnorth.com