THE stories of the men who returned to Mobberley from the First World War are being told in a poignant project at St Wilfrid’s Church in the village.

A special service was held last month at the church commemorating those men of the parish who enlisted in the war.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War.

“Those who died in the conflict are remembered each year at Remembrance Sunday, but on this centenary year we wanted to remember all those from this village who served their country,” said Canon Ian Blay, the rector of Mobberley.

The service was led by Canon Blay, with music by a Lions Youth Brass Band and the church’s director of music, David Williams.

The service was a combination of hymns interspersed with readings from letters of the period and a medley of First World War tunes played by the brass band.

During the service the parish Roll of Honour was read by the Rev Scott Manning of Mobberley Methodist Church, Linda Rushton from Mobberley Parish Church, Janet Cookson, chairman of Mobberley Parish Council and councillor David Swan.

“While the Roll of Honour was being read children from Mobberley Primary School took large poppies into the graveyard to mark the 72 graves of those men who returned from war and are buried here,” said Canon Blay.

“At the conclusion of the service the congregation were invited to spend time in the graveyard and reading the short biographies attached to each poppy stem provided for us by Alistair MacLeod of the Family History Society of Cheshire.

“The poppies will remain in the graveyard until Remembrance Sunday, when they will be taken to the Victory Hall in Mobberley and placed in a display around the carved wooden soldier.

“The families of the men will then be given one of the poppies in recognition of their forebears’ faithfulness and courage.”

The four-foot high poppies are made of metal, and were funded by local resident Allan Edgar and his company Edgar Brothers. The carved wooden soldier was created by local sculptor Andy Burgess.

It was unveiled in 2015 at the Victory Hall, where it stands guard in the rockery garden.