Respect The 88

The issue of whether or not to allow building on the Ingleborough Road Memorial Playing Field in Birkenhead attracted nationwide news coverage and aroused much local sentiment both for and against. The playing field used to be the school field of the old Birkenhead Institute school that closed in 1995. 88 old boys from the school - including famous poet Wilfred Owen - were killed in action during the First World War and the sports pavilion was built in 1926 as a memorial, paid for by a public appeal. 88 trees were also planted - one for each of the old boys killed. This collection of contemporary poetry brings together some of the voices against the development of the playing fields and helps underline some of the strong and emotive arguments involved.