Just recently we’ve had the painful task of removing all our collection of Village archives, and family memorabilia from our loft. It had however enabled us to look at our last 60 years of being connected with Christleton. Memories of events come flooding back with each viewing, and I want to share some of those memories with you through the pictures we’ve found. Many of the pictures are in black and white and were taken by Gerry Lockley who at that time was working for the Chester Chronicle. They reflect life in the school in the 1980’s. The images from the Gateway were in 1977/78 when children from Christleton & Waverton formed the backing choir to sing along with the incredible cast of Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. The late Tony Taff featured here as Joseph was such a charismatic personality, and he and the company were just brilliant with the children. Tony and Geoff the narrator came into school and did singing workshops with the whole school, and I’m convinced that it improved the quality of singing at the Primary School. Things have changed in the way education is now delivered, even the layout of the school which was revolutionary at the time, but we had a great team of staff and pupils and made it work.

Some of the images show the children at the opening of the A55/M53 extension, when the then Minister of Transport came to open the road. There are also a few images of the late Jim and Lucy Partington’s last day at their Butchers Shop in the Village. I remember there were a good number of friends and customers present to say their farewell, for a business that had been part of village life for around 150 years. Jim and Lucy, and Mary and Joe Mosford before them, had been key figures in the Village throughout their lives, with Mary founding the W.I in 1924, and being Fete secretary and Parish Councillor for many years.

I’ve also found some images of Marian Kershaw, who was Headmistress of the Primary School before me , at an Eightieth Birthday party. Many of our older readers will recognise many of the people in the picture. I can spot Rayner Dornford May and Tony & Margaret Dromgoole. Tony was Head of P E at Christleton Secondary School, now High School, and did much to support the Primary School by getting us daily access to the swimming pool, and the use of their “new” gym and sports facilities on their playing field, when the new field was being laid and prepared in Quarry Lane. This was in the time of the three day week, and other national events, so we were always grateful to Tony for allowing us access, with support of the great Les George, Headteacher extraordinary, a much loved figure in the life of the village.

I hope you enjoy looking at this archive material, and I hope to continue with more in the near future. Next month I will share more of the design and art work of the late Phil Hodges, whose family have entrusted me with keeping a collection of his life’s work.

New Publication. Decades of Memories of Christleton & Chester by Judy Smith. 40pages. With 32 colour images of Christleton. £6 per copy. Available from David 01244 332410 or davidberyl80@uwclub.net