Hometown tribute in Horley to oldest man to die on The Somme

A plaque and lectern will be unveiled in Horley Memorial Gardens on Thursday July 21 to recognise the life of Henry Webber, the oldest man to die in active service.
By The Newsroom
Published 19th Jul 2016, 12:26 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 22:55 BST

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Display in St Bartholomew's Church in Horley in tribute to Henry Webber, former Horley councillor, church warden and the oldest man to die in active service. He died on The Somme on July 21 1918 - picture courtesy of the churchDisplay in St Bartholomew's Church in Horley in tribute to Henry Webber, former Horley councillor, church warden and the oldest man to die in active service. He died on The Somme on July 21 1918 - picture courtesy of the church
Display in St Bartholomew's Church in Horley in tribute to Henry Webber, former Horley councillor, church warden and the oldest man to die in active service. He died on The Somme on July 21 1918 - picture courtesy of the church

The unveiling will be part of a service in the Memorial Gardens in Horley Recreation Ground on the centenary of the death of Mr Webber, who was a pillar of the community.

He died on July 21 1916 on the battlefields of France during World War One, aged 67 years.

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The service will commence at 11am. Any member of the public can attend and many of his great-grand children and great-great grandchildren will also be there.

Mr Webber served as a warden at St Bartholomew’s Parish Church and was the first chairman of the former Horley Parish Council.

He was also one of the original members of the Surrey County Council when it was first formed in 1889, representing Horley, Charlwood, Burstow and Nutfield.

A spokesman for Horley Town Council, which is organising the event, said: “We shall also unveil a plaque and lectern in the Memorial Gardens commemorating the life of Henry Webber, a person who made an enormous contribution to the overall well-being of the people of Horley during his lifetime.”

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Related topics:Horley Town CouncilFrance