A POPULAR Widnes pub is now home to two plaques commemorating local history thanks to a community partnership.

The Premier, the Wetherspoon pub in Albert Road, has the two plaques on permanent display on behalf of the charity The Tom Wilkinson VC statue appeal.

One plaque details the history of HMS Widnes – the ship that served in the Royal Navy and the German Kriegsmarine.

The second memorial plaque is in honour of Corporal Geoffrey Caton SAS, who joined the Widnes Territorials (South Lancs) before joining the Royal Artillery and 11 Commando.

Corporal Caton was the only British soldier killed when a small raiding force hit the beach at Sicily on 10 July, 1943.

The aim was to disable the Italian heavy guns, engaging more than 700 Italian soldiers. He was aged just 22.

An unveiling ceremony was held at The Premier featuring Corporal Caton’s family members Jillian Maloney and Tracey French.

Also in attendance was pub manager Matthew Brennan, and The Tom Wilkinson VC statue appeal chair and secretary Chris Stapleton and Tony Miller.

Matthew has worked for Wetherspoon for more than 10 years and has managed The Premier for the past three years.

On the occasion, he said: “When we were approached by The Tom Wilkinson VC statue appeal charity to display the plaques, we were only too happy to help.

“The plaques are on display in a prominent place in front of the bar, and they have created a great deal of interest among our customers.

“Many of them did not know about these stories, so it is so important to retell this local history and to remember the people involved.”