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Hoylake and West Kirby war memorial will be illuminated for the first time in its 104-year history.
The transformation has been made possible through the dedication of community volunteers from the Friends of Grange Hill, supported by Wirral Borough Council. Together they have helped preserve one of the area's most significant landmarks and secure its future for generations to come.
The project began in 2012 after a visitor attempted to take his father, an elderly veteran, to the memorial but found access virtually impossible. The site had become heavily overgrown with gorse, grasses and shrubs, with the original memorial garden all but disappearing beneath years of neglect.
That experience inspired the creation of the Friends of Grange Hill, a community group determined to breathe new life into the historic memorial and ensure it remained accessible for future generations.
At 4.30pm on Monday, 2 November 2026, His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of Merseyside, Peter Oliver OBE, will attend an informal ceremony to mark the completion of a new bespoke lighting scheme and other restoration works as part of a community-led effort.
The site serves as a place of remembrance for the hundreds of service personnel and civilians whose sacrifices in times of conflict are honoured there.
Over the past 14 years, volunteers have worked tirelessly in all weathers, clearing litter, managing vegetation, maintaining pathways and raising tens of thousands of pounds to fund extensive improvements. Their achievements include the construction of a wheelchair-friendly access path, remedial works to the remembrance garden, and the restoration of the war memorial with ongoing enhancements designed to make the site more welcoming and accessible to all.
Now the Grange Hill War Memorial will be illuminated through a bespoke lighting scheme that will ensure the monument remains a visible beacon of remembrance throughout the darker winter months.
The lighting installation will be officially opened during the November ceremony, which will be attended by local dignitaries, community representatives, and relatives of those who lost their lives during conflict.
Derek Longman, Chair of the Friends of Grange Hill, said: "This is a proud moment for everyone who has been involved in the restoration of Grange Hill War Memorial over the past 14 years.
"What began as a small group of volunteers determined to rescue a neglected landmark has grown into a remarkable community effort.
"The new lighting scheme is not simply about illuminating a monument; it is about ensuring that the sacrifices commemorated here remain visible and remembered by future generations.
"We are grateful to our volunteers, supporters and funders whose dedication has made this latest milestone possible."
