A street in Hawkshaw is to be renamed in honour of renowned armed forces campaigner Colonel Eric Davidson.
“Colonel Eric”, as he was affectionately known to all, carried out outstanding work for five decades on behalf of veterans, and organised Bury’s annual poppy appeal and Remembrance Sunday parades.
He was made an MBE in 2018 and a Freeman of Bury in 2015 when he returned from the 100th anniversary commemoration of the Lancashire Fusiliers’ landing at Gallipoli. He was also appointed a Deputy Lord Lieutenant in 2002, and died in May 2022 aged 84.
A parade will be held this Sunday (17 March) at 10am, when Spenleach Lane, which leads to Holcombe Moor Training Camp of Bolton Road, will be renamed Col Eric Davidson Way. The new signs will unveiled by the Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Diane Hawkins.
Also in attendance will be the Mayor of Bury, Councillor Sandra Walmsley, who said: “Bury has such a proud military heritage, particularly our connection with the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, and Colonel Eric was at the heart of that association for five decades.
“He left us a great legacy, and renaming the road leading to the cadet training centre is a fitting tribute.”
Colonel Eric was chairman of the Fusiliers Association in Lancashire and a director of the Fusilier Museum. He was also a member of the Regimental Council in Lancashire and the founder and president of the Band and Corps of Drums of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (Lancashire).
He became involved with the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal in 1948 at the age of 11 when, in his free time and with the aid of his butcher’s pedal cycle and large basket, he would deliver poppies to outlying farms.
Originally from the Scottish border town of Jedburgh, he joined the police force in Bolton on completing his national service in 1958, and settled in Bury in 1963.
He started planning Bury’s remembrance parade in 1967 while working as accident prevention officer for Bury Police. In the 1970s, Colonel Eric became a Fusilier and worked on the famous Krypton Factor Course at Holcombe Training Camp.
Colonel Eric’s wife Marjorie and family from Bury will attend Sunday’s ceremony along with Bury Council leader Cllr Eamonn O’Brien.
A flag from the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers will be draped over the road sign at the ceremony, also attended by Vice Lord Lieutenant Sharman Birtles, Honorary Colonel of the Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force, and the Cadet Band will play in his honour.
