The story of Chorlton’s own blue plaques …… today in St Ninian’s Church at 1.30pm

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that any place in possession of a past, must be in want of a blue plaque.*

Chorlton Blue Plaque Days, 2023-4

At which point some readers will mutter “clever blighter” and others will be appalled at the misquote from the opening lines of Pride and Prejudice.

But I don’t care.

The idea of a blue plaque trail has been floating around for a while by Peter and Andrew but has now been taken up by Chorlton Civic Society and aims to record those people in Chorlton who in some way have made a contribution to where we live, coupled with buildings or events that are part of our history.

They are not necessarily looking to remember the conventional “famous person” or the most elegant property, but people and buildings which are significant in our own history.

Chorlton Civic Society wants suggestions for plaques.

So far three have gone up. The first on the wall of the Bowling green Hotel, recording that the pub was one of the earliest in Chorlton.

The second can be found at Foster’s Cycle shop on Barlow Moor Road and celebrates a business which has been run by three generations of the same family on a site which has sold bikes since the Second World War.

The Lord Mayor unveils the Blue Plaque for Euton Christian, 2024

And the third on Nicolas Road honoured the life of and contribution of Euton Christian who was born in Jamaica, served in the RAF during the last World War, and was the first black person to be promoted to a managerial role in the Post Office, the first black magistrate, and the first to sit on a Crown Court bench. 

To this can be added his role as a founding member of the West Indian Sports and Social Club in Moss Side and Manchester Council for Community Relations in the 1960s.

Some will remember him as one of the Windrush generation, to others he was a keen sportsman, a neighbour and a father.

Of course there is more and for an hour and a bit Andrew Simpson and Peter Topping will talk about our the Blue Plaque project, acknowledge earlier Chorlton plaques and go into the fascinating tale of how societies have remembered those who lived in their communities.

As ever there will be the light hearted bits, a few serious ones and the chance to question Andrew and Peter as well as  suggesting other people, buildings and events for a plaque.

Blue Plaques for Chorlton

I am hoping other members of the Blue Plaque Committee will be able to attend.

Location; all over Chorlton

Pictures; blue plaque days in Chorlton, 2023-4 from the collection of Andrew Simpson

*"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife”, Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen, 1813

**Every place should have blue plaques, St Ninians's Church, Wilbraham Road, September 10th at 1.30