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Scarborough Life
Scarborough Review
Soldier’s vandalised gravestone replaced a century later Words & recent photos by Dave Barry A SCARBOROUGH soldier’s vandalised gravestone has been replaced, a century after he died. Born in 1888, Billy Tucker died on 13 May 1916 after being poisoned by mustard gas on the western front, in France. Private William Silas Tucker fought in the Royal Field Artillery and was one of the Scarborough Pals – a group of squaddies who came from the town. After being fatally injured, he was medically discharged and died at home a few weeks later. He was buried at Dean Road cemetery and doesn't have a military because he was no longer in the army when he died, explains Ian Temple. Mr Temple is secretary of the Royal British Legion in Scarborough, which was approached earlier this year by Billy’s great grandson. Paul Tucker QC, a barrister practising in Manchester, asked if the British Legion could help with the rededication of the grave. The original headstone had been destroyed by vandals in the early 1990s. Billy’s son William, who served in the Royal Engineers in WW2, always planned to repair or replace it but didn’t get around to it. He died in 1994. “On a recent trip back to my home town I showed my niece the grave and resolved that it was my job to replace it,” said Paul, who, along with his uncle Micahel, commissioned Pindar’s to replace the headstone. “Although I am not at all religious, my great granddad’s family were devout Methodists and my wife suggested we should rededicate the grave and perhaps invite a local minister to become involved in a service of some kind”. The new headstone was dedicated at a formal ceremony officiated by Father Allan Campbell-Wilson, who is a padre and chaplain to the British Legion branch. Salvation Army cornetist Richard Weston played the Last Post and seven bearers solemnly lowered their standards at the graveside, watched by Paul and his sons Matthew and William. William, named after his great great grandfather, pointed out that the new headstone features the rune symbol of his his grandfather, Geoff Tucker, at the bottom right. Paul described the ceremony as “an
immensely humbling experience. It was an honour and a privilege to have been present for the rededication of my great granddad’s grave. To describe the event as moving does no justice to the depth of emotion that it triggered. My whole family is deeply grateful to the Scarborough RBL for arranging it. It is Billy Tucker a source of immense pride that the spirit of the Scarborough Pals remains strong”. The Scarborough Pals lost 18 soldiers in WW1, according to the town’s most eminent historian, Jack Binns, who taught Paul A-level history at the Sixth Form College. Billy’s name appears on the Oliver’s Mount war memorial alongside that of his brother Syd, who was awarded the military medal on the first day of the battle of the Somme. Syd died in France in 1917.
Richard Weston plays the Last Post
Father Allan Campbell-Wilson recites the Lord’s Prayer
The standard bearers
William Tucker was named after his great great grandfather, whose prayer book he is holding
October- Issue 38
Walkers dazzle to raise hospice cash Words and pictures by Mike Tyas THE caring heart of Scarborough shone brighter than ever at this year’s Starlight Walk. The popular annual fundraiser for St Catherine’s Hospice attracted 630 walkers – and you certainly couldn’t miss them as they made their way around the 6.5 miles circular route on a thankfully dry and warm summer’s night. Nearly everybody came along dressed to dazzle in line with the neon theme of this year’s event. St Catherine’s are hoping the final total from sponsorship will swell to around £40,000 and are waiting to announce the final figure when all the cash, much of it donated through justgiving.com online, comes in. The night air glowed as the walkers set off in a splash of colour from the start and made their way along Green Lane, down and around North Bay to stop off and enjoy a well-earned ice cream, courtesy of the continuing support from the Harbour Bar. And though the walkers didn’t quite have the same spring in their step as they made their way up Throxenby Lane to the finish, all of them did have an enormous sense of pride that they had made such a fantastic effort for such a worthy cause. All of them had stories to tell of family or friends touched by the kindness of St Catherine’s. One of the walkers, Katie Rogers, married her husband Wayne in July last year a day before he was moved to the hospice. He died the next day. ‘St Catherine’s were just amazing,’ she said. ‘When Wayne passed away it was so serene and calm, with all the family there for him.’ Another walker, Penny Lane, of Durham Street, said her dad Ray spent six weeks in St Catherine’s last year before he died just before Christmas. ‘It was not like going to a hospital – the room my dad was in at the hospice was really individual to him. It was like going to see somebody in their home.’
Penny added that the St Catherine’s staff were ‘really lovely’, a sentiment echoed by so many. Ann Wllson, of Seamer, lost her mum Hilary to cancer in 2007 and apart from one year has taken part in their charity walk ever since. She said: ‘The staff were phenomenal for mum – just so caring. I walk each year as it’s my way of thanking St Catherine’s. It’s a lovely event, everybody comes together and it’s fun.’ Ian Hepworth, of Pickering was walking as a thank you to the help he received from the hospice’s bereavement team after the death of his dad John. ‘I was stuck in grief,’ he said. ‘My doctor suggested I speak to St Catherine’s. I have been talking to them and they have helped me put myself first and remember my dad fondly rather than be stuck with sad memories. ‘They have helped me cope. I took part as I wanted to repay their kindness and support.’
The pharmacy team from Scarborough Hospital having a great night out
Making a colourful splash are, from left: Kathy Bodkin, Karen Candlish, Penny York and Katie McWatt
Enjoying their treats provided by Harbour Bar owner Giulian Alonzi were, from left: Charlotte Kerfoot, Becky Coates, Georgina Lane, Sarah What a great Saturday night out for dad Ian Lane, Sally Kerfoot and Joshua Lane
Hepworth and son William