A funeral home in Top Mossley is paying its own special tribute to Armed Forces Day this weekend.

Elizabeth Way and Company Funeral Directors has decorated the windows of their premises with flags, poppies and memorabilia alongside the pictures of two members of the armed forces, from Mossley and Stalybridge, who have recently passed away.

Armed Forces Day is on Saturday (26 June) but, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many celebrations have been cancelled.

Tami Peel, from Elizabeth Way, said: “For Armed Forces Day we have used two local gents who we have recently done the funerals for and, with permission from both families, they have consented to us using their photos, along with their own hats and medals.

“I know that Tameside is not celebrating in the usual way due to restrictions still ongoing, so we decided to go all out on a window for the community.”  

The funeral directors have used pictures of Gary Howard from Mossley and Norman Bailes, from Stalybridge.

REMEMBERING: Norman Bailes.

Gary, who was born in Maidstone in 1968, started his military career in 1984 at the guards depot in Pirbright at the age of 16.

On completion of his training he went on to join the first battalion, the Grenadier Guards in Oxford, and within two months he was deployed to Northern Ireland on a six month tour. 

In December 1990, he found himself on his way to the Persian Gulf, with the Queen’s company Grenadier Guards - during this time he was a warrior driver and signaller. 

PAYING TRIBUTE: Gary Howard.

In 1991, he was part of the Queen’s Guard at Buckingham Place, Windsor Castle, St James Palace, and took part in Trooping the Colour, the State Opening of Parliament and the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London. Later in his career he joined the military police.

Gary was also a founding member of Ex-Forces Jobs and was on the board of governors at Tameside Hospital. 

Norman Bailes was a wireless operator for the RAF on board the HMS Bulolo - the world’s first communications ship.

He was 99 years old when he died.

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