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John Francis Risby

A roll of honour will be dedicated to the memory of those killed in combat who worked at the Withy Grove building when it was the headquarters of Kemsley newspapers.

John Francis Risby, father of Lightbowne councillor and former Manchester Lord Mayor Bill Risby, was lost in the Mediterranean in 1940 when his submarine was torpedoed by the Italians.

John Francis, a works fireman in the former Thomson House building, was just 40 and one of the oldest ratings to serve in the Royal Navy when he was killed along with all hands on the HMS Triton.

The father of two, recalled to serve in the war, after having, as a boy, already volunteered for and served in World War One, had his name included on an original roll of honour in the building's foyer.

The building became Thomson House and was later re-named Maxwell House and became home of the Mirror Group of newspapers. In the late 80s the memorial was relocated when The Mirror moved to its new HQ in Chadderton.

On Thursday the roll of honour will return to its original site at the Mark Lane entrance to the new shopping and leisure complex in tribute to those who fell in battle and in recognition of the building's significant history.

The dedication has been organised by the Withy Grove Fellowship which represents past employees of the various newspaper printers previously based at the Printworks site.

Cllr Bill Risby and his brother Joe, who both followed their father into jobs at Thomson House, will join more than 60 members of the fellowship plus relatives and families at the ceremony.

Bill, who spent 43 years in newspapers, became national president of the print union Slade in the 1960s.

Dignitaries at the unveiling will include Manchester's Lord Mayor Hugh Barratt, Bishop of Manchester Christopher Mayfield and Bishop of Salford Terence Brain.