Memorial stone to community champion

8:08am Friday 25th May 2007

Comments (0)   Have your say »

A TRIBUTE to well-loved community leader George Robinson is to be unveiled today at the site of his former home..

A resident of Palatine Square, George, who died last year, was a local Homewatch co-ordinator and active member of Adactus Housing Group's tenant liaison board, providing help and support to tenants and neighbours.

One year after his death and to celebrate his life friends, relatives and members of the local community came together for the unveiling of a memorial stone outside no 23.

George, a former miner, was the last licensee of the Ring O' Bells in Kirkhall Lane, Leigh.

He was a good neighbour of the much loved hostelry, which was run by Mrs Ruth Lowe and her sister Ida, who were both in their eighties.

The brewery wanted to close the pub, which they said was unviable, but George convinced them he could make a go of it with modernisation, and did until the heat of 1982 broke the dangerous building in half and it had to be demolished.

George and his wife Betty moved on to Boston Grove and George later took up the stewardship of Leigh Royal British Legion from 1984-88 before retirement.

He moved to Palatine Square where he was co-founder and chairman of the self help residents' group urging families to band together to tackle crime in the area.

He kept a watchful eye on the Square, nearby Cowper Street and Moresby Close, with a CCTV system operating from his home.

Paul Lees, group chief executive at Adactus Housing Group, said: "George was the epitome of a good friend and neighbour, warm, caring and always ready to help everyone. He was a dedicated and inspirational community leader who is very much missed, so it is only fitting that a permanent memorial has been created here at Palatine Square."