FOR the last three weeks we have been pulling on the family threads of John Battye of Scholes.
This was at the instigation of Sandra Nixon of Southport, who had a copy of John’s memoirs and was wondering if a member of the Battye family would like them.
Over to Patricia Haigh (nee Battye), John’s daughter:
“I would like to thank Mrs Nixon for trying to trace my dad's whereabouts through your newspaper and I would love to accept the memoirs so that my family can have them to treasure,” she says.
“Sadly my dad died in 1996 at the age of 82. He would have been very proud to know that an article had been published about him in the Examiner.
“My dad had fond memories of the time he met up with Sandra and her mother on his pilgrimage to the war graves at Monte Cassino, and enjoyed his visits to Southport and also showing them around his favourite haunts of the Last of the Summer Wine.
“He had always wanted to see the grave at Monte Cassino of his childhood friend Harry Cartwright who had been killed during the 1939-45 war and he was able to do this through an organised trip with the British Legion.
“I would like to thank everyone who has contacted me – Vivien Powell and Carol Harvey who saw the article, and especially Roger Deakin from Scholes Methodist Church who thought that a copy of the memorabilia would have been nice to display at their 150 anniversary celebration.
“My family and I would love to receive the memoirs from Sandra. Many thanks for publishing the article. it has meant a great deal to us.”
