Vandals carry out graffiti attack on memorial garden to young Warrington soldier

VANDALS have struck at the memorial garden created as a legacy to young Warrington soldier Daniel Wade and his five comrades who were killed on active duty in Afghanistan 10 years ago.

Less than three weeks after the official opening of the Marshall Gardens Project, a wall has been targeted with spray paint.

Now Daniel’s heartbroken mother and Warrington Borough Council are appealing for help to catch those responsible.

A heartbroken Lisa Billing said: “I am so disappointed after all the hard work and having a memorial garden for our heroes Soldiers who sacrificed their lives to give children, women and us a better way of life.

“To think someone could be so disrespectful, without a care in the world and no doubt a laugh to them but not to me or to the volunteers and council workers who spent years bringing this garden back to life. People should also remind their children that graffiti is against the law, whoever it is should be ashamed of themselves.”

Ian Brackenbury, Warrington Borough Council’s Operations and Commercial Services Manager, whose team worked closely with Lisa during the restoration of the gardens said: “After all the hard work of the volunteers, wider community and my team, it is so sad and upsetting to see the mindless destruction of the facility, following the fantastic opening event and work of the wider group.

“We will work with Cheshire Police to try and identify the culprits and would ask if anyone has any information related to the vandalism, to contact the Police via 101.

The whole concept of the Gardens was to return the facility to the public in remembrance of Private Daniel Wade, and his colleagues who lost their lives, and to me the vandalism is a direct insult to their name.”

Lisa has been instrumental in driving forward the revitalisation of the gardens, spending a number of years researching and developing the project.

The took place earlier this month on the 10th anniversary of the death of Daniel who was aged just 20 when he died alongside his comrades from The Warrior Six.

Work got underway in 2020, with Lisa, Warrington Borough Council, armed forces mental health service Minds At War, community groups and volunteers working together to transform the gardens – which sit opposite the Cenotaph on Bridgefoot – into a haven of peace, reflection and remembrance.

The project includes:
• A clean-up of the gardens, which had in recent years deteriorated
• Clearance of tired, overgrown trees and shrubbery which were planted in the 1950s and were in need of replacement
• The installation of a new Heroes Pathway – giving everyone the opportunity to purchase a stone paying tribute to a loved one who has served, or is still serving, in the armed forces; or a public services worker who has worked in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic
• 12 new themed benches
• Landscaping works and the planting of a variety of colourful, textured, scented flowers
• Securing the gardens through the refurbishment of the ornate feature gates and railings at the park entrance

Ten years after tragedy memory of young soldier Daniel Wade set to live on at special memorial garden