PENSIONER Nev Owen was delighted when he discovered that a factory war memorial plaque had been uncovered in Leigh’s town hall basement.

He had been questioning its whereabouts for some time.

Nev, of Car Bank Avenue, Atherton, is now joining the call for the plaque, bearing the names of 37 employees killed during WW2, to be unearthed from the archives department and put back on public display.

Nev, 76, believes the time is appropriate. It is exactly 60 years ago this week since the memorial tablet was unveiled at BICC’s West Bridgewater Street Albion works by Sir Alexander Roger.

It was removed when the factory, one of Leigh’s biggest employees, closed.

Nev’s oldest brother Jack Owen was one of the ex-servicemen named on the plaque.

He was serving on the Adventurine in the English Channel and was lost when the minesweeper was torpedoed killing all on board on December 1 1943. He was just 20-years-old.

Nev would like to see the tablet erected back at the BICC site from where it was removed.

It’s sad that something like this, paying tribute to the brave war heroes of Leigh, should have been left lying forgotten for so many years - especially when family members are still alive.

For goodness sake someone get it back on show for all to see - as a mark of respect to those who fought and lost their lives.