War memorabilia stimulates memories (From Runcorn and Widnes World)
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Widnes grandad shares war memories with elderly residents
7:50am Wednesday 15th February 2012 in News By Barbara Jordan
From left, St Patrick’s residents Colin Farr and Jack Farr with Terry Burns Picture: Ian Park IPZW1212
WAR memorabilia has stimulated elderly Widnes residents to reminisce about their military service.
Veteran Terry Burns brought his unique collection to St Patrick’s Nursing Home in Crow Wood Lane and spent several hours chatting to former soldiers.
He showed them a Russian sniper’s rifle, helmets, badges, guns and uniforms.
Great grandad Mr Burns, aged 80, of Melville Close, Halton View, who has eight grown up children, said: “It brought back memories. They all came and had a look.
“One chap told me he was in the Ordnance Corps. Another remembered the old cigarette packets.”
Terry scours car boot sales and military fairs looking for memorabilia.
Some of his historic collection is now on display upstairs at Widnes Library but he would love Halton to have its own miiltary museum.
Terry, who gives talks to schools, said: “I’ve got boxes of memorabilia and hundreds of books which should be on permanent display.
“It is imporatant to keep memories of the war alive, otherwise it will be lost.”
