Granddaughter’s 10km war tribute

Whitcliffe Mount pupil Katie Wilby, of Third Avenue. Liversedge, was joined by her dad Mick and sister Rebecca on the route, which started at the Cleckheaton memorial.

From there, she visited the monuments at Heckmondwike, Batley and Dewsbury, before returning to Cleckheaton’s memorial in three hours, where she celebrated with all the family, on August 2.

Mum Diane, 45, said: “She just went and did it. She walks to school and back every day and she’s done sponsored walks for school before.

“She felt very proud that she had done it. Her dad and sister were just there to egg her on. We were all there to support her.

“She would like to do the same thing for the British Legion at least once a year.”

At each memorial she left a small cross to commemorate the centenary of the First World War’s outbreak, which was remembered across the district on August 4.

She chose the Royal British Legion because her grandfather, Malcolm Wilkinson, is vice chairman of the Spenborough branch.

Malcolm, 68, said he was was “taken aback” when Katie told him she wanted to do the walk.

“When she said it I got a lump in my throat to be quite honest – for a 15 year old girl to say that,” he said.

“I went around in the car and met her at every memorial and I thought she was brilliant.

“ She was fantastic with the way she did it.”