Businesses urged to support armed forces charity

Tony Attard, high sheriff of Lancashire, has called on businesses to use the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War to help raise £15m for armed forces and mental health charities.

Tony is supporting the national There But Not There campaign created to commemorate those lost in the Great War which ended at 11am on November 11, 1918.

The campaign aims to raise funds through the sale of specially created There But Not There silhouette statues, known as ‘Tommies’. These commemorative artworks are available to purchase from therebutnotthere.org.uk.

Lancashire was the first county partner to support the campaign and Tommies have already been installed at Blackburn Cathedral, Lancaster Castle, Preston Station, St Peter’s Church Stonyhurst, Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Burnley Town Hall, St Chad’s Poulton, Great Mitton Hall and the Accrington Pals chapel in Accrington.

Places of worship across the county have also been installing the silhouettes, and even more are expected to be in situ by the end of the month in readiness for the national centenary commemorations.

Tony said: “There’s still time to get involved. This centenary is such a landmark event for the country, for those who have been and continue to be affected by conflict across the world.

"We cannot and will not forget those that gave their lives to protect this country and I know the people of Lancashire feel that very strongly.” He added: “The county is preparing in many different ways to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War, with events taking place in churches, schools, museums and at war memorials across Lancashire. The There But Not There Tommies were created to act as reminders in every day locations, in our workplaces and places of worship that someone has been missing from our lives, because of their great sacrifice.”