A RECORD commemorating the life of First World War poet Wilfred Owen has been discovered in the home of an Ellesmere Port man after being lost for more than 20 years.

Dave Keech wrote the lyrics for “Wilfred” in August 1986 and teamed up with Wallasey folk singer Gill Burns to raise money for Clatterbridge Hospital.

The song tells the story of Wilfred Owen - who spent his childhood years in Tranmere and attended the Birkenhead Institute - but until this week, the original recordings were thought to be gone forever.

“After the cassettes were sent to Clatterbridge Cancer Research Trust, the remaining ones – some of them without labels – and the master tape were put to one side and forgotten for more than 27 years,” explained poet and folk singer Dave.

“However, a couple of weeks ago I found an old document case with the tapes in and after another search, the master tape was found.”

Gill Burns has now been informed and a cassette has been sent to her along with the lyrics.

Dave has also contacted Birkenhead’s Wilfred Owen Story – the only permanent tribute to Owen.

After receiving a copy of the song, Dean Johnson, curator of the Argyle Street museum, said:  “It is a wonderful surprise that they still exist after thought being lost for over 20 years.

“It is another example of how Wilfred Owen inspires people not only by his own genius but the creativity he inspires in others to put so much thought and passion into their commemoration of him.

“The tape will now join our growing collection of musical and artistic tributes to him  at the Wilfred Owen Story.”

Dean also plans to have the song uploaded to the website in any MP3 format. 

He added: “It is all part of the proud heritage Wirral shares of the greatest war poets of all time that was educated here in Birkenhead.”