The Esclusham Memorial Gardens in Rhostyllen have been illuminated for the first time thanks to SP Energy Networks, which has sponsored an electricity supply to power new lights for the Welsh and English Memorial Gardens.

Dignitaries, Councillors, war veterans and members of the local community gathered for the lighting ceremony within the gardens which commemorate people from Esclusham who fought in conflicts around the world, including both World Wars, the Falklands and Northern Ireland. A total of 82 local war veterans who served in the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, British Army and the Merchant Navy are honoured. The new lights were officially switched on by Major General Cordingley of the 5th Inniskilling Dragoon Guards.

SP Energy Networks, which also sponsored the opening event, funded the installation of a new power supply to ensure the memorials would remain visible during the dark winter months. In addition, a team of six SP Energy Networks staff and suppliers, some ex-service personnel themselves, volunteered to excavate, lay cables and connect the site to the power network. This followed the Chairman of the Esclusham War Memorial Project, Richard Elias, approaching SP Energy Networks earlier this year with an ambitious plan to make the Memorial Gardens more visible.

Stephen Stewart, Director at SP Energy Networks, said: “We are honoured to have contributed to this project with Esclusham Memorial Gardens, particularly given it is the centenary year of the end of World War One.

“We’re committed to keeping the Dee Valley and Mid Wales community safe and are proud to have been given the opportunity to do something to pay tribute to those who have fought and fallen to keep us all safe at home. Our own staff and suppliers have gladly given up their own time for such a worthwhile cause that is close to all our hearts.

“We were delighted to support the opening ceremony also, which was well supported by the local community in Esclusham who we are proud to serve every day.”

Richard Elias, Chairman of the Esclusham War Memorial Project said: “We thank SP Energy Networks for their generosity and support in supplying a power source to the Memorial Gardens. This project has allowed us to complete the ongoing renovation which started in 2016 and we hope the new and improved space will be enjoyed by the Esclusham community for years to come.”

SP Energy Networks owns and manages overhead and underground powerlines in North Wales as well as Cheshire, Merseyside, North Shropshire and Central and Southern Scotland. For more information about SP Energy Networks and its services, visit: spenergynetworks.co.uk

Notes to Editors

SP Energy Networks:

• SP Energy Networks (SPEN) is the licensed Electricity Distributor (DNO) for Central & Southern Scotland and for Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales and North Shropshire.  We have 30,000 substations (one substation for every 100 customers), 40,000km overhead lines (once around the globe), and 70,000km underground cables.
• SPEN also operates the Transmission Network in Central and Southern Scotland. They take electricity generated from power stations, windfarms and various other utilities and transport it through their vast transmission network, consisting of over 4000 kilometres of overhead and 320 kilometres of underground lines.  They have 129 transmission substations in their network that help us to manage extra high voltage electricity supplies.
• From 2015 to 2023 SP Energy Networks plans to invest approximately £5 billion into the electricity network. To keep power supplies on the company currently manages over 110,000km of power cables and 30,000 substations across their network area.