An afternoon in Chorlton …… with a history of Withington

It was another of those well attended meetings at Chorlton Good Neighbours* and we were not disappointed by David Rydeheard’s talk on the history of Withington.

It started with maps which as everyone knows is a jolly good way of walking through the past, and we had four, covering the periods from 1820 through to 1934.

There at the start in 1820 was a very rural Withington which as David showed in subsequent maps was transformed by the march of urban development ranging from the grand properties of the people of plenty to the humble homes of the artisans.

And star of the presentation was the story of Withington swimming baths from its ambitious plans to the cut down version built by the City Council.

That said the finished product with its impressive, patterned windows and tiled walls is still a gem, and a gem which might have been demolished but for a community campaign which matched demonstrations with a carefully worked out business plan which did the trick.

The Baths were saved and today are the centre of a heap of community events as well as a place to enjoy a splash in the pools.

Nor was that al because David drew much social history from the provision of first- and second-class pools, and the limited access for women to the absence of a public laundry which were a feature of swimming baths in the poorer districts of the city.

Not content with the talk we had the opportunity to buy David’s book on the History of Withington Baths**, and the delightfully illustrated book A Bigger Splash, Withington Baths: Ten Years as a Community-Run Leisure Centre by the artist Len Grant***.

Pictures; An afternoon in Chorlton …… with a history of Withington, 2026, from the collection of Andrew Simpson

*Chorlton Good Neighbours, https://chorltongoodneighbours.org/

**Withington Baths, David Rydeheard, 2025, available from Withington Civic Society, www.withingtoncivicsociety.org.uk

***A Bigger Splash, Withington Baths: Ten Years as a Community-Run Leisure Centre, Len Grant, 2025 £15

430 years of history …. 30 appreciative listeners ….. and one more talk

Hough End Hall, that Elizabethan pile on the edge of Chorlton has been in and out of history for centuries and yesterday its story was unveiled to an audience at Chorlton Good Neighbours.*

Awaiting an audience, 2025

Four hundred years and a bit is not a wink in time and there was much to discover about the families that occupied it along with the stories of those who played in it in the 1960s as well as the fond memories of many who wined and dined there and finally to the campaign to save it as a venue for community use.

Added to which we explored the life of the chap who built it in 1596.

This was Sir Nicholas Mosley a Manchester man who did “gooder” in London, walked with the people of power and was rewarded not only by a fine fortune but gifts from the first Elizabeth which included the marriage bed of her grandparents, Henry V111 and Elizabeth of York.

All you ever wanted to know ... 2025

The story is not all happy, because during the Civil War Mosley’s chose the wrong side in the Civil War and were eventually forced to sell the hall and land to the Egerton estate in the 18th century to allay gambling debts.

The story unfolds, 2025  .....

What followed were the “sleeping years” when for 250 years the hall was a farmhouse and its occupants were tenant farmers. 

In the 20th century it was nearly demolished to make way for Mauldeth Road West, was proposed as a museum cum art gallery, before being sold off to a succession of developers who hid it from view by two giant office blocks.

Even given this the Hall still shone for decades as a restaurant and briefly as a suite of offices before going up for sale in around 2012.

A local campaign to buy the building and convert it into a community centre was pipped at the post by a faith group.

.......to an appreciative audience

All and more wasrevealed in the hour and a bit, followed as ever by a heap of questions.

Leaving me just to thank Helen and Chorlton Good Neighbours for the invite, Bernard who did the technical stuff and Angela who stood guardian at the door.

And as unaccustomed as I am to self-promotion I will just close with a comment from Helen who wrote “Thank you again Andrew for your talk yesterday ; I hear people say what a brilliant speaker you are and Bernard said it was an excellent talk 

The Hall, 1849

Many thanks again - I'll ask you again next year if you could do another one (or two) as I know people will turn out for you !”

Location; Chorlton Good Neighbours

Pictures; awaiting an audience and screen shot from the power point talk, 2024-25, from the collection of Andrew Simpson, and an appreciative audience, 2025, courtesy of Helen from Chorlton Good Neighbours and the Hall in 1849, from Mosley, Sir Oswald, Family Memoirs, 1849, Printed for Private Circulation

*Chorlton Good Neighbours, https://chorltongoodneighbours.org/

All you ever wanted to know about Hough End Hall ……… But never knew who to ask …. The talk today

 Join me to celebrate the birthday of Hough End Hall today with Chorlton Good Neighbours. *

Happy birthday, Hough End Hall

Of course, I can’t be exactly sure that today 429 years ago Sir Nicholas Mosley threw open the doors to family, friends, and assorted guests but it will do for me.

Over an hour and a bit accompanied with heaps of pictures and maps there will be stories of the Elizabethan Hall including a special present from the first Queen Elizabeth, tales of avaricious land grabs, and dissolute family members, mixed with tales from its days as a farm and culminating with memories of a place for scary adventures and later of nights of good food amongst friends.

The birthday celebrations begin at 1.30pm, hosted by Chorlton Good Neighbours in St Wilbraham Ninians Church on Egerton Road South, today October 14th.

 Sir Nicholas Mosley, undated 

Location; Hough end hall at anytime between 1596 and now, and Wilbraham St Ninians Church, Egerton Road S, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 0XJ

Picture; courtesy  of Peter Tipping, 2019, and the man himself, from Mosley, Sir Oswald, Family Memoirs, 1849, Printed for Private Circulation

*Chorlton Good Neighbours, https://chorltongoodneighbours.org/

* Wilbraham St Ninians Church, https://wilbrahamstninians.com/

What to do with the children? …… British Home Children …. a story only partly told … the talk June 10th

 Between 1870 and 1930 100, 000 children were sent to Canada, and placed on farms and in domestic service ….. the youngest were aged just 4 years.

Young people admitted to the Manchester & Salford Boys' & Girls Refuge, undated

Opinions are still bitterly divided as to why they were sent, the morality of the project and the impact on the young people who were migrated.

Emma before admission, undated

In the early years some of the children were those who were found homeless, living on the streets and potentially vulnerable to predators and open to petty criminality.

Others were from families who had fallen into poverty through illness, unemployment or the death of one of the parents and sought help from charities who promised that migration offered a better life and a new start for one or more of the children.

And it was children’s charities, along with the Poor Law Unions who offered the opportunity to participate in the scheme.

Critics pointed out that many were used as cheap labour, were open to all sorts of abuse and in the case of those sent to farms were cast adrift at 16 to fend for themselves.

In the absence of strict supervision some farmers failed to keep the promises they made to adequately feed and clothe the children or ensure they had access to a school.

To these critics the programme was the exploitation of young people who were powerless to protect themselves, an opinion summed up by William Edward Skivington one of the three Socialist Poor Law Guardians on the Chorlton Union in 1905 who wrote, “they were robbed of their childhood and of the opportunity of a sound education .... the emigration of young children for working purposes savoured of a traffic in child labour carried on between agencies in this country and agencies in Canada and children would not be allowed to go from the care of the Guardians to anything like such conditions in this country.”

Leaving for Canada on the steps of Manchester Town Hall, 1897

It was a policy which those engaged in the practice recognised was a cheaper solution to keeping the children in care.

But many of the advocates of the policy genuinely believed they were engaged in giving hope and lifting children from appalling conditions. 

Leonard Shaw of the Manchester and Salford Boys’ and Girls’ Refuges argued that “some [children] would be dragged back to vagrant, drunken and vicious associations …. their only salvation for them was to be placed far away from the baneful environment of their early life … and supplied a colony with one of the other needs – healthy, honest Labour”.

Mr. Shaw was speaking in 1910 of the situation that he had encountered forty years earlier, when destitute children were to be found in many of our cities and towns, and while that scandal had pretty much vanished there were still families who were on the margin of poverty and some who had toppled over.

Application for a BHS boy, 1914

Today the arguments about the policy remain and the battle lines no less tightly drawn. Many who discover they have a family member who was transported are bitter and condemn the practice.

Other’s like me whose great uncle went out in 1914 aged 16 are more nuanced, and as the study of British Home Children finds its way on to University courses, and attracts more writers, the story enters the grey zone.

That said it is a subject which is still not well known.  More so in Canada than in Britain but still a story which deserves better coverage.

So, while there are a growing number of books and sites devoted to British Home Children across Canada, here in Britain the list is small which led me and Tricia Leslie to set up a Facebook site, where stories can be shared and information exchanged all of which will raise awareness of the subject. *

And added to the site I am back again talking to groups about the story which is the lead into my next presentation this coming Tuesday at 1.30 on June 10th to Chorlton Good Neighbours at St Ninians Church on Wilbraham Road.**

And beyond the talk  .... there is Home Children Canada which is "a proactive charity established in 2012, has been dedicated to elevating the profile of the Home Children and preserving their memory. 

Emma after admission, undated

Through diligent efforts, the organization has worked tirelessly to shed light on the historical experiences of the Home Children and to honor their legacy. With a strong commitment to raising awareness and promoting understanding, Home Children Canada strives to ensure that the stories of these children are recognized and respected. 

By honoring their memory, the charity seeks to ensure that the Home Children's contributions and struggles are never forgotten and that their rightful place in history is acknowledged with dignity and compassion".***

Location, June 10th, 1.30, St Ninians Church on Wilbraham Road 

Pictures; Young people admitted to the Manchester & Salford Boys' & Girls' Refuges, undated, Emma before and after admission to the same Charity, undated, party of boys on the steps of Manchester Town Hall about to leave for Canada, 1897, courtesy of the Together Trust, Application for a BHS boy, 1914, British Home Children, poster from the collection of Andrew Simpson

* British Home Children ....... the story from Britain, https://www.facebook.com/groups/1624406061006317

** Chorlton Good Neighbours, https://chorltongoodneighbours.org/ Wilbraham St Ninians Church, Egerton Road South, Manchester M21 0XJ, 0161 881 2925

***Home Children Canada, https://www.britishhomechildren.com/

Spreading the news ….. updates on Chorlton’s own blue plaque project

The community-based project to identify and acknowledge people, events and places which have a special meaning to Chorlton’s past has been up and going for almost a year.

Telling the story to Chorlton Good Neighbours, 2024

And on Tuesday members of Chorlton Good Neighbours got to share in the story, and as it turns out were the first group to engage in the new power point presentation which explained the scheme and described the progress so far.

The idea of recognising a person, event or building with a wall plaque has a long history and here in Chorlton we had one on the side of a house on Oswald Road to one of the two men who were the first to fly across the Atlantic in 1919.

And now Chorlton Civic Society has chosen to erect more, with the difference that instead of the famous the new blue plaques will be about subjects which history has not only forgotten but in some cases never even bothered to notice and yet were central to our history.

Unveiling the first three Blue Plaques, 2023-24

The first went up on the Bowling Green Hotel in recognition of its place as one of our oldest pubs, and the second recorded a family business stretching back three generation of Foster’s Cycle shop on Barlow Moor Road.  

The third celebrated the life of Mr. Euton Christian, who served in the RAF during the last War, returned to Britain  and was the first black manager in the Post Office, the first black JP, helped establish the West Indian Sports and Social Club as well being actively engaged in Race Relations.

The Civic Society is eager to receive nominations, but the individual must have been dead for at least 20 years and have been a resident in Chorlton.

Nomination should be sent to Stephen, ChorltonPlaques@hotmail.com or Peter Topping, events@chorltonarts.org or Phone Peter 07521 557888

Location; Chorlton

Pictures; Blue Plaque events, 2023-24 Telling the story to Chorlton Good Neighbours, 2024, courtesy of Peter Topping, Unveiling the first three Blue Plaques, 2023-24 and Chorlton Blue Plaques, 2024, from the collection of Andrew Simpson

And another satisfied audience learnt the tale of Withington’s dastardly theft ........

Granted the theft of a bit of Chorlton by Withington took place over 380 years ago, but theft is theft.

The audience, 2023

And some of us have never forgotten that Houghend was appropriated by Withington in a land grab.

Houghend looking towards Barlow Moor Road, circa 1900

The land was a stretch which ran from Barlow Moor Road to Hough End Hall and was bounded by Chorlton Brook and what is now Mauldeth Road West.

Just why and to whose benefit is still unclear but as the story unraveled there was a distinct ripple of disapproval from some of those in the audience, and if unrestrained Eric of Needham Avenue would have called for its return and a hefty sum in compensation.

Of course the irony is that in 1928 the area became Chorlton Park which sort of set the record straight.

And I doubt with the passage of three centuries many will know of the crime or for that matter show any indignation.  

Except of course Eric but he was only one out of two dozen who attended the history talk at Chorlton Good Neighbours and even Eric was mollified by stories of the lost hamlet of Martledge which once stretched along Manchester Road from what was the Four Banks out towards Longford Park.

Wilbraham Road circa 1900

All of which I have to thank Chorlton Good Neighbours for the invitation to tell the story, which also allowed Peter to talk about the new initiative to set up the Friends of Chorlton Graveyard, which is looking to improve the site in partnership with the City Council.

Pictures; today at Chorlton Good Neighbours, 2023, from the collection of Andrew Simpson, Houghend, circa 1900and Wilbraham Road circa 1900, from the Lloyd Collection

*Chorlton Good Neighbours, https://chorltongoodneighbours.org/

**The Friends of Chorlton Graveyard, https://www.facebook.com/groups/1381914932356270

One for August …..

 One for August ….. 

Location; St Ninians Wilbraham Road

A bit of history ….. the new book on Chorlton ..... and an appreciative audience

Now if you are going to have a second launch of a new book on Chorlton, there is no where better than Chorlton Good Neighbours.*

Gathering in expectation of the talk, 2022

After all its members have lived here for a long time and will have heaps of fond memories and more than a few stories.

And so, it was when we spoke to them at their coffee morning today.

Over 40 turned up to hear us talk about the second in our series on “nothing to do in Chorlton Martledge Lost and Found”.**

Martledge is the old name for the area stretching from the Four Banks to the library and out to Longford Park.

Of course, the term the Four Banks has itself now slipped into the past, but there were plenty there who remembered it as Kemp’s Corner, and one who told me that just before her dad died he confessed he had played the piano in the Savoy Cinema on Manchester Road accompanying the silent movies.

The book, "nothing to do in chorlton, Martlege Lost and Found" by Andrew Simpson & Peter Topping, costs £5, is available from Chorlton Bookshop or from us at  www.pubbooks.co.uk

Location; Chorlton Good Neighbours

Pictures; Gathering in expectation of the talk, 2022, from the collection of Andrew Simpson

*Chorlton Good Neigbours, https://chorltongoodneighbours.org/

**A new book on nothing to do in chorlton, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/search/label/A%20new%20book%20on%20doing%20nothing%20in%20Chorlton

A story of a remarkable women ..... Madge Addy ..... nurse and spy ..... today

Now I am looking forward to hearing Chris Hall talk on Madge Addy at Chorlton Good Neighbours today at 1.30pm.

She was a shadowy figure, who worked as a nurse on the Republican side during the Spanish Civil War and went on to work for the SOE during the last World War.

But her story and in particular her time as a spy was barely known, but now thanks to Chris it is out in the open.

Before the last world war she lived in Chorlton and a blue plaque commemmorating her time here was unveiled back in 2018 by the Lord Mayor. 

In July of last year, Chris published his book on this remarkable woman.

All of which leaves me just to post a link to the zoom meeting.

I heard Chris speak on Ms Addy at the Library in September and it was an excellent description of her life, and the fascinating detective story which brought her out of the shadows.

The talk is hosted by Chorlton Good Neighbours and will be available at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88259914720?pwd=WXVwWUFBZERiOWR2QzZOTjU4amtzdz09 Meeting ID: 882 5991 4720 Passcode: 050850 at 1.30pm

*Chorlton Good Neighbours, https://chorltongoodneighbours.org/

Remembering the Second World War …… today …… at St Nininan’s

Now I won’t be alone in looking forward to today's, talk by Michael Thompson in St Ninian’s Church on Wilbraham Road at 1.30.

Michael Thompson will be showing small clips from his  War Memories film , based on Wargen interviews about peoples' recollections of WW2.*

Michael told me that “much of my work has been carried out with historian Dan Snow and the  film is of high quality. **

I will show a number of 3 minute clips, and then there will be a small discussion / feedback /reminisce, touching on call up, rationing, evacuation, Americans and others visitors and then, VE day, coming home, wisdom and legacies.

We are hoping also that a few students from Chorlton High School may be able to join us that afternoon.

The initial idea for WarGen was put forward by broadcaster and historian, Dan Snow, and author and broadcaster, James Holland, and aims to record the memories of as many of these survivors as possible.

They remain crucially important witnesses to the most cataclysmic war the world has ever known”.

The generation that participated in that conflict are now quite old and while there are still many who grew up during the war, the memories of those who went off to fight, stayed at home, working in vital industries and raising families will soon pass from living memory.

All of which makes the Wargen project so important.

So, come and join us at St Ninian’s Church on Wilbraham Road at 1.30 for Michael’s talk hosted by Chorlton Good Neighbours.***

Location; Chorlton

Pictures; courtesy of Michael Thompson

*WarGen, http://wargen.org/

**Hardy Productions UK, http://hardyproductionsuk.com/

***Chorlton Good Neighbours, https://chorltongoodneighbours.org/

Chorlton in the 1970s ....... as it might have been

Now here is one to do.

Bernard Leech posted this trailer for what looks to be a fun day

What are you doing on Thursday 10am 12th July? 

Come and get your groove on to see a fun, new, comedy musical comparing life in Chorlton today with the 1970s: Bagpuss, space hoppers, Curly Wurlies, heatwaves, power cuts and flares contrasted to ageing in a fast changing Manchester! 

Set to the sounds of the groovy 70s, 80 local actors aged 60 plus will be electrifying St Ninian’s Church Hall on Wilbraham Rd.

The 40 minute musical “Love Chester 1970s – What Are You Doing Sunday Baby” by Nakib Narat has been developed with the input of Theatre Professionals from The Royal Exchange Theatre and West Yorkshire Playhouse. It runs for 40 minutes. 

Chorlton Good Neighbours started our city’s first completely free professional Drama Workshops for older people this April. 

We attracted 30 (mainly over 70 year olds and one lady of 96!) who have learned acting techniques and improvisation comedy. 

Come and support them and have a great laugh and enjoy some 70’s pop!

The Drama Workshops at Chorlton Good neighbours have successfully widened access to drama, diversified the voices and stories told, increased a sense of community and, and above all have been great fun for all involved and we are sure, for you the audience.

Tickets (only £1 each, including refreshments) are limited and are available on a first come, first served basis. 

Come in some 70’s clothes if you can! For further information please call Helen Hibbert on 0161 881 2925 or email helen@chorltongoodneighbours.com

"When history met art and became a book"

Now "When history met art and became a book" pretty much sums up the collaboration between me and Manchester artist Peter Topping.

Good Neighbours, 2018

It started as a request to use one of his paintings on a blog of mine, and quickly morphed into a series of projects, where I wrote the stories and Peter painted the pictures, culminating in the 80 meter installation along Albany and Brantingham Roads, which told the history of Chorlton from the 16th century to the present day.

It started with the story of Chorlton Green and by degree made its way across Chorlton to the site of the old Cosgrove Hall studio, and was designed as a walk, starting in 1512 and finishing in 2013, and quickly became known as the History Wall.

The History Wall, 2012

And with the success of the “Wall” we have gone on to write five books, with another ready for publication later this year, hosted a series of history walks and participated in Chorlton's Big Green Festival, Chorlton Arts Festival and played a part in the campaign to save Hough End Hall for community use.

All of which means we will have lots to share with Chorlton Good Neighbours who have invited us to their February meeting, which will take place on Thursday February 1st at 1.30. in St Ninian’s Church, on Egerton Rd South, Chorlton, Manchester M21OXJ

There will be lots of stories about Chorlton, a good selection of Peter’s paintings, along with copies of all our books, ............ and a few surprises.

Location; Chorlton

Painting; Good Neighbours © 2018 Peter Topping, Paintings from Pictures.
Web: www.paintingsfrompictures.co.uk

*Chorlton Good Neighbours, https://chorltongoodneighbours.org/ 
Egerton Road South, Manchester Area, Manchester M21 0
Phone:0161 881 2925

The Recipe, the Corset and Agony Uncle ........... the story of Women’s Magazines ...... the talk at Chorlton Good Neighbours ...... tomorrow at 1.30

Now I am fully aware that there will be some who mutter darkly about a story on Women’s Magazines.

Woman's Own, 1956

But however unPC some think they are, these magazines have a long history stretching back into the early 19th century coming into their own with the advent of cheap mass circulation publications in the following century.

And of course they are a wonderful social history, offering up not only a comment on the prevailing outlook on the role of women before and after the two great world wars but present insights into mass consumerism as well as the changing nature of child care.

I suppose my favourites are those from the late 1940s through the following decade and into the '60s. Partly this is because this was when I was growing up and the fragile slightly browning pages remind me of that time.

Flicking through the pages you quickly get a sense of the optimism of those decades.

The end of the last world war in 1945 had not meant an end to rationing and with many of our cities still bearing the scars of the German aerial bombing it is easy to see the late ‘40s and ‘50s as a grim grey time, but not so.

Woman's Weekly, 1911

We were on the cusp of that “you have never had it so good” era when the growing economy and the political determination not to return to the Hungry ‘30s, ushered in the Welfare State, full employment and growing expectations.

And over the next two decades and into the early 1970s everything seemed possible.

A serious start was made on the slums, it was possible to leave one job on a Friday and walk into another on Monday and on the surface at least many from working class backgrounds were making it good.

All of which is reflected on those magazines and that inturn allows me announce that tomorrow

Margaret Beetham will be talking at Chorlton’ Good Neighbours on “The Recipe, the Corset and Agony Uncle”.

The event starts at   1.30pm in St Ninian’s Church Hall, which is on corner of Egerton Road South and Wilbraham Road, Chorlton M21 OXJ

Adverts from 1911

There is a small admission charge of £2 which helps towards the cost of the room and refreshments.

A small price for what will be a fascinating piece of our social History.
Location; Chorlton

Pictures; from Woman's Own, January 12 1956 and the Souvenir edition of Woman’s Weekly 1911, from the collection of Andrew Simpson

*Chorlton Good Neighbours, https://chorltongoodneighbours.org/  Tel: 0161 881 2925

Stories from Dunkirk .........

Now for my generation, who were born just after the last world war “the miracle that was Dunkirk” was not a history topic we were taught in school.

What we knew about the event, was what we absorbed from films, and comics and everyday conversations with our parents.

For most of us it was a great victory given the number of British, and allied troops who were plucked from the beaches and only years later would I come to realize that this had in fact been a military defeat.

And it would be later still before I became aware of the degree to which the story had been manipulated in the interests of war propaganda and public moral.

Now I make no value judgement at what the Government did to the story back in 1940 and nor did Tom Grimshaw who offered an excellent, thought provoking talk on the stories of Dunkirk.

Starting with the popular interpretation of the event he ranged over both the actual history of those nine days, offered up information on how the French and German media dealt with what happened and finished up with the degree to which what we now regard as the story was guided by the demands of the war effort.

The talk was held at St Ninians on and hosted by Chorlton Good Neighbours.

There were bags of sweets on hand for those who answered Tom’s questions correctly in the introduction and the audience came away with a renewed interest in the subject.

Leaving me only to announce that Tom is most happy to offer the talk to interested groups.

Location; Chorlton Good Neighbours

Pictures; Stories from Dunkirk, 2017, from the collection of Andrew Simpson

* Chorlton Good Neighbours, https://chorltongoodneighbours.org/
Egerton Road South, Chorlton-Cum-Hardy, Manchester, M21 0XJ Tel: 0161 881 2925

The story of Chorlton Good Neighbours with a background on some of its originators ........ from Tony Goulding

The prime mover in establishing Chorlton Good Neighbours* Care Group was Mrs. Edith Marian Lundy. Edith was born Edith Marian Killick, around 1924 and raised, in Chorlton, by Alban and Flora (nee. McDonald). 

She married, John Edward (Jack) Lundy who was the son of Percival Lundy (1), a civil servant, of 27, Torbay Road at High Lane Primitive Methodist Church, on 1st. June, 1946.

At this time Edith was living with her father Alban at 44, Highfield Road (since re-named Kingshill Road) Chorlton-cum-Hardy.

Their marriage record also shows John was an accounts clerk recently demobbed from the Royal Air Force, in which he held the rank of warrant officer.  Edith's occupation is given as a shorthand typist with an oil company. Edith and Jack settled down to married life on Rushton Road, Firswood.
     

After hearing a sermon regarding the problem of loneliness in modern life from the Methodist minister Rev. John Jackson, Edith set about organizing an initial group of 6 friends to address the issue.

This group included Mr. Philip E. Lloyd who remains an active member of the organization. In the first couple of years this band of volunteers were known as "The Social Action Group" and soon became enlarged by the addition of some of her fellow parishioners from Chorlton, Manchester Road Methodist Church.

Some of Chorlton Good Neighbours Garden Club

Later still a "merger" took place with a similar group operating under the auspices of St. Clements’s Church. The end of the 1960's was a time of great ecumenical progress and resulted in Chorlton in the formation of "The Chorlton Fellowship of Churches”.

In 1969, this led to the ad hoc co-operation existing between the various church based groups being formalized and "Chorlton Good Neighbours" was born.

During this time great encouragement was forthcoming from the incumbent Rector of St. Clements’s the Rev. David Bonser. (2)
   

The project continued to grow throughout the 1970's still being run by Mrs. Lundy firstly from her home, then from an office in Manchester Social Services building on Manchester Road.

After well over a decade "running the show” Edith moved away from the area (3) and reluctantly vacated the "directors chair" Two short term tenures, of the administrator's office, followed Mrs. Lundy's departure, with Mrs. Jean Hardman (the wife of Rev. Hardman, the minister of Manchester Road, Methodists)   and then Mrs. Muriel Krell taking charge for a brace of years each.
     

Just to show we don't sit drinking coffee and eating biscuits

Since 1983 the post of co-coordinator of the group has been filled by Mrs. Helen Hibberd.(4)

For more than three decades now Helen has been the inspirational, driving force in the development of Chorlton Good Neighbours Care Group whilst also maintaining adherence to its core aims and values.

For this work she was awarded a, richly deserved, M. B. E. in the Queen's birthday honours list of June, 2015.  The group was already the proud recipients of one of the first Queen's Golden Jubilee Awards in 2003. (5)
   

One of the latest initiatives has been the appointment of part time workers given the remit of promoting activities for older men who were seen as being significantly under-represented in terms of their use of the services/activities already provided.

This exercise has amongst other things seen the creation of a beautiful garden by a group of older, mostly male, volunteers of which I am pleased to say I am one. I have also, of course, now become a regular at the monthly history talks too!

© Tony Goulding 2016

PLEASE ADD MY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FOR THE INPUT FROM BOTH MRS. HELEN  HIBBERD AND PHILIP LLOYD IN THE PRODUCTION OF THIS PIECE

Location; Chorlton-cum-Hardy

Pictures; from the collection of Tony Goulding, and St Ninian's Church, 1960, A E Landers, Landers,  m18467, courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives, Manchester City Council, http://images.manchester.gov.uk/index.php?session=pass

St Ninian's, 1960, the hall where many of the activities take place

NOTES
1) Perceval Lundy was born, in August, 1898, in Bridlington, East Yorkshire the first child of Charles Edward, a railway clerk, and Elizabeth (nee. Dale)  He was brought up in East Yorkshire/Humberside, marrying Susan Jaques, in York in, 1922. The couple first set-up house in York, before moving to the Manchester area in the mid 1920’s. Initially this was in Old Trafford but by 1937 was at 27, Torbay Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy. In the Kelly's directory and on his son's marriage certificate he is described as a "civil servant".

2) One of the early enthusiastic supporters of the project, Rev. David Bonser the then Rector of St. Clements. Rev .David was born on 1st.February, 1934 in Huddersfield to George F. Bonser and Alice (nee. Roe).  He gained his initial degree at Kings College, London before studying for ordination at St. Boniface's, Missionary College, Warminster. After working as a curate in Sheffield, and Heckmondswike, Yorkshire he was appointed to the position at St. Clements’s, replacing the long-serving Rev. D. Ratledge, in 1968. Staying in Chorlton-cum-Hardy until 1972 he gave great encouragement to those involved in the early growth of the organization that was to develop into Chorlton Good Neighbors. In 1972 Rev. Bonser moved on to become a canon of Manchester Cathedral and whilst in this post obtained an M.A. degree from Manchester University.  Later he became the archdeacon for Rochdale and from 1991 till 1999 he was the Suffragan Bishop of Bolton. He died on 20th March, 2005.j

3) Edith and her husband decided to move to a bungalow in North Cheshire (with perhaps a less hectic lifestyle) would be more conducive for their health. It is pleasing to report that the "cure" seems to have worked certainly  in Edith's case as she is now well into her nineties living in Wilmslow.

4) Helen was offered the post of (in those days part-time) co-coordinator in November 1983, just a couple of months after joining Good Neighbors as a volunteer. Helen had recently completed a Speech and Language Therapy degree at Manchester University and for a time combined her role at C.G.N. with work in this field for Trafford Health Authority.  1990 saw a decision to devote more time to C.G.N. partly as being able to undertake some work from home fitted in with caring for her young family.

5) Helen has always acknowledged that the success of the group and the winning of these awards could not have been achieved without the dedication and enthusiastic effort shown by a team of co-workers, volunteers and the organizing committee.
 
The names of several of these contributors are recorded in a special section of Chorlton Good Neighbors website and one such is very poignantly remembered by a dedication on the organization’s office door. Mr. Douglas Cree was a volunteer and committee member for many years who sadly met an untimely and brutal end when he was murdered by a man he had befriended in 1992. (This story must wait for another time, however)

Chorlton Good Neighbours, https://chorltongoodneighbours.org/ 
Egerton Road South, Manchester Area, Manchester M21 0
Phone:0161 881 2925