A new community-led initiative to honour Salford’s fallen servicemen and women is set to begin, thanks to the generous support of SELCO Salford and its Branch Manager, Simon Lee. The company has donated a range of hand tools and accessories to the Salford Military Veterans War Graves Group, providing a vital boost to their mission.
The group, made up of ex-service personnel and volunteers, will begin the careful restoration and maintenance of Commonwealth War Graves across the city in partnership with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) through its ‘Eyes On, Hands On’ programme.
“We’re extremely grateful to SELCO and Simon Lee for their kind donation,” said project leader Graham Walker, a CWGC Volunteer. “This support gives our group a head start in what is an important and ongoing project. We look forward to building a strong relationship with SELCO in the years ahead.”
Operating as part of a Military Veterans Hub run by former RAF serviceman Dave Marriott, the group meets every Thursday at 10:00am at Pendlebury Social Club, 609 Manchester Road, Pendlebury. In the coming weeks, they will begin visiting various burial sites across Salford to photograph, assess, and clean military headstones where necessary.
Each participating volunteer receives full training and is equipped to handle the task with proper health and safety measures in place. Findings and updates will be reported back to the CWGC, contributing to the organisation’s global work maintaining the dignity and condition of Commonwealth graves.
But this initiative is about more than just cleaning—it’s about connection. “Every grave has a story,” said Graham. “Our aim is to learn more about the lives behind the names etched in stone and to share those stories with communities across Salford.”
The group hopes to involve local schools, colleges, military cadet organisations, and other community groups as the programme grows, offering educational and meaningful opportunities for wider engagement.
“We’d love to welcome people from the community to join us during one of our sessions,” Graham added. “And of course, anyone is welcome to drop in at our Veterans Hub in Pendlebury any Thursday morning.”
For more information or to get involved, visit the group at Pendlebury Social Club, Thursdays at 10:00am, or look out for updates on their work with the CWGC.
