Bolton veterans club unveil new gazebo at Heywood Park

The ribbon was cut at the Slaterfield Veterans and Residents Association event held at Heywood Young People’s Centre in Great Lever.

This marks the latest step for the group that has worked long and hard to support former servicemen and their families from all across Bolton.

Chairman Simon Skirving said: “It means a lot, I can’t fault the council and our local councillors for the way they’ve supported us.

“They’ve bought this gazebo, which certainly isn’t a cheap thing, and at the end of the day it really means a lot.

The club provides a place for veterans to meet and talk with each other (Image: Public)

“The veterans are really pleased with it and it’s a way of promoting what we’re doing.”

Mr Skirving and the association members have been meeting for several months and in June hosted a special barbecue to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

Simon Skirving and Cllr Akhtar Zaman (Image: Public)

It also runs a regular breakfast club which provides a place for veterans to meet each other, make friends and support each other along with various other special events.

It is also open to anyone from the community who wishes to take part.

Simon Skirving with Yasmin Qureshi MP (Image: Public)

The new gazebo is the latest of several plans that Mr Skirving has to take the association to the next level and Bolton Council deputy leader Cllr Akhtar Zaman was on hand to cut the ribbon.

The new gazebo was funded through the Social Value Budget, Growing the Good Work fund, which is part of the Queens Park and Central ward’s area working budget.

Cllr Zaman cutting the ribbon (Image: Public)

Mr Skirving says that Cllr Zaman along with his ward colleagues Cllr Linda Thomas and Cllr Richard Silvester have been long time supporters of the group.

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The gazebo opening event was also attended by Bolton South and Walkden MP Yasmin Qureshi.

Mr Skirving said: “I wanted to say thank you to the councillors because they didn’t have to do this, they really didn’t, but they did.

“It’s fantastic what they’ve done for us, words are not enough but I’d really like to say thank you.”

Anyone interested in getting in involved can email afvbcb@gmail.com.