AN event was organised to remember the people who died in the First World War at St Margaret’s Church, Altrincham.

‘Oh what a lovely war’ was a tribute organised by Altincham Court Leet Denise Laver and Hale Civic Society in conjunction with the Rev Jerry Sutton, the church vicar.

In his opening introduction, Rev Sutton, pointed out the treasures in his church, which hark back to that time including the Manchester Clock and the French Legion D’honneur monument.

He also praised Chapel Street, “the bravest little street in England” from where 161 men signed up to fight in France and 29 never returned.

During the event, Alderman Laver acted as a 1914 recruitment officer urging members of the audience to “Take the King’s Shilling and join up.”

Poems of the period were read by Altrincham Grammar School pupil, Zahrah Burney, Steve Rooney, and Abigail Rayton of North Cestrian School.

The Reverend Danny Crosby of Dunham Road Unitarian Chapel spoke of local VC hero Captain E K Bradbury, after whom a school and several local roads are named.

Stuart Hurlston, whose ancestors, Albert and Alfred Oxley were recorded on a memorial tablet at the back of the church also spoke about the bravery of Chapel Street residents.

Music and songs were played and sung, with Oliver Turner, a pupil at Chetham’s School of Music singing Lads in their Hundreds, accompanied on piano by George Herbert and Isabelle Turner, of Loreto Grammar School and Hale Chapel, performing solo the first verse of Keep the Home Fires Burning.

Burgess Bridget Garner and Moira Percival told personal stories of their husband’s ancestors.

The Mayor and Mayoress of Trafford, Councillors Tom Ross and Anne Duffield were present.