Altrincham Court Leet has unveiled a plan to revamp a memorial garden for victims of the town's worst tragedy of World War Two.
The historic civic group's £5,000 plan aims to honour the 12 people, including four children, who died when a German bomb hit a row of houses and a sweet shop on the corner of Oakfield Road and Moss Lane on December 23rd 1940.
The attack came on the second night of the Manchester Blitz, which saw 441 bombers dropping some 467 tons of high explosive and 1,925 incendiary bombs on Manchester and surrounding towns, killing 684 people over two nights.
Among those killed in Altrincham were brothers Allan and David Hough, aged five and two, alongside their mother Nancy, 33. Their father Ernie, a painter and decorator, only escaped because he had joined the army two weeks previously. His family's bodies were discovered under masonry on Christmas Day and buried at Hale Cemetery on December 30th.
The Sanders family, who ran the sweet shop at 43 Moss Lane, were also wiped out in the attack. Peter, 32, Gladys, 28, and their two-year-old son Kenneth all perished. Their dog survived and was found in Kenneth's pram.
Another victim, Edwin Jenyons, had been serving as an Air Raid Warden when he died. He was killed alongside his daughter Florence Fairbank, 37, and granddaughter June, 11, who had been staying with him over the Christmas holidays. Tragically, the family had already been bombed out of Edwin's house on Mayors Road earlier that morning and were sheltering at a neighbour's house on Oakfield Road when the second bomb struck.
Six houses were demolished in the bombing: numbers 83, 85, 91, 97 and 98 Oakfield Road, plus the first house on Moss Lane.
The site of the bomb blast is now a memorial garden. In 2011, Trafford Council arranged for a plaque to be installed to commemorate the victims, but unfortunately it incorrectly states the death toll was 14 and does not name individuals.
The Court Leet now wants to erect a new plaque correcting the mistake and naming those who died, along with a display to teach people about the attack and links to articles and research detailing the events of 85 years ago.
Alderman Denise Laver said: "The Oakfield Road Memorial is an important part of our local heritage. It stands as a powerful reminder of the atrocities of war and how ordinary people, going about their daily lives, were deeply affected.
"Sadly, there is an inaccuracy on the plaque which we believe should be corrected, so that proper respect is given to the 12 local people who lost their lives just two days before Christmas in 1940.
"Now, 85 years on, we plan to enhance the area and, through various means, share this important story with the local community - particularly with young people - to ensure it is remembered and understood for generations to come."
The Court Leet is asking relatives of the victims to get in touch with their memories and stories passed down in their families, and to attend an opening ceremony. They can be contacted at altrinchamcourtleet@gmail.com.
