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

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.

Many will  remember him as 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

Chorlton's Blue Plaques ..... the story ...... Tuesday September 10th ... 1.30pm ...... St Ninians's Church, Wilbraham Road

 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.

Many will  remember him as 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

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

Remembering Euton Christian

Yesterday 60 family and friends along with residents of Chorlton came together to watch the Lord Mayor unveil a blue plaque to honour Euton Christian.

The family gather by the plaque

Mr. Christian 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. 

Mr. & Mrs. Christian

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.

Many will  remember him as a keen sportsman, a neighbour and a father.

He was according to one source “an inspirational man who achieved many extraordinary things. He and his story give just one example of why we should celebrate the men and women who travelled on the Windrush, and the many subsequent ships, who settled and made lives in Britain during the middle part of the twentieth century”.*

Unveiling the plaque

The event began in the Lloyd’s Hotel with an informal gathering, moved on to Nicolas Road where the plaque was unveiled by the Lord Mayor and members of his family.

Friends spoke of Mr. Christian’s achievements set against the backdrop of prejudice earlier in the century, and the day finished back at the Lloyd’s where people remembered him.

It was a happy afternoon, where old friends met up and some of us made new friends.

And that I think Mr. Christian would have appreciated.

Roy Walters, the Lord Mayor, and Alderman Whit Stennent

Leaving me just to thank Stephen and the two Peter's who organized the blue plaque event, the Civic Society who oversees the Blue Plaque project, the Lord Mayor, and of course Mr. Christian's family some of whom travelled up from London.

Along with Nina, who gave permission for the plaque to be placed on house she now lives in, and lastly all the friends, and residents who joined together to honour Mr. Christian

The Lord Mayor meets some of the family

Meeting up

Family and friends

Sharing memories

Roy and Whit remembering Mr. Christian

Enjoying a joke

Location; the Lloyd’s Hotel and Nicolas Road

Watching the unveiling

Pictures; from the day, 2024 from the collection of Andrew Simpson

* The Windrush Generation – Euton Christian, Events, Manchester, Communities, Pastimes, archive & local history organisations at Manchester Central Library, https://manchesterarchiveplus.wordpress.com/2018/06/21/the-windrush-generation-euton-christian/

Honouring Euton Christian ……. with a blue plaque ....... unveiled today

Euton Christian was a remarkable man whose life was characterized by a determination to serve his community.

He 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.

Many will  remember him as a keen sportsman, a neighbour and a father.

All of which makes it fitting that he should be the subject of the next blue plaque organised by Chorlton Civic Society which will be unveiled today on the wall of the house he occupied with his wife Louise and family on Nicolas Road.

He was according to one source, “an inspirational man who achieved many extraordinary things. He and his story give just one example of why we should celebrate the men and women who travelled on the Windrush, and the many subsequent ships, who settled and made lives in Britain during the middle part of the twentieth century”.*

Euton Christian

The ceremony will begin at the Lloyds Hotel and move to Nicolas Road for the unveiling.

Euton and Louise Christian

Location; The Lloyds Hotel Wilbraham Road, Chorlton, and Nicolas Road, Chorlton

Pictures; Euton Christian and Louise Christian

* The Windrush Generation – Euton Christian, Events, Manchester, Communities, Pastimes, archive & local history organisations at Manchester Central Library, https://manchesterarchiveplus.wordpress.com/2018/06/21/the-windrush-generation-euton-christian/