March 2008 Archives

FOR two decades, writer Ian Skidmore was a familiar figure in Chester. He pounded a beat that took in the law courts, cathedral, and Army barracks, the Boot, Bear and Billet, Swan, the King's Arms kitchen and the bottom bar of the Grosvenor, the police headquarters and the zoo.

He spent part of last summer on a nostalgic visit to his old stamping ground and now he has published a book about it - his 25th publication in 25 years.

Forgive Us Our Press Passes, published this month, is a comic biographical account of his career as a writer and broadcaster in the 1960s and 1970s.

Ian, 79, who used to live at Picton Hall, Mickle Trafford, and now lives in Cambridgeshire, said: "The memories immediately came flooding back to me - the people, the places, the stories.
"A few of the landmarks, most noticeably and regrettably some of the pubs, the Garret Anderson Luncheon and Supper Rooms (the Chester Dining Club), had disappeared.

"Some, despite my best efforts to support them, had actually disappeared while I was there. And some appeared to have been moved. But it was a wonderful visit, and I can't wait for the opportunity to return."
After revisiting his old haunts, Ian revisited his book, revising it and more than doubling its length by adding more anecdotes about the surreal personalities - crooks and policemen, judges, bishops and bookmakers among them - that he encountered during his career covering Chester and the surrounding counties as a freelance journalist.

Forgive Us Our Press Passes was actually first written and published as a slim volume of biography in 1983. It was chosen as the BBC Book of the Year, had the highest listening figures of any book broadcast on Radio Four, and was read twice, in its entirety, on the BBC Overseas Service.
Actor Ian Carmichael described it as "a comic masterpiece" and said he hoped it would be turned into a TV series so that he could play the role of Ian.

One reviewer described the author as "the successor to Tom Sharpe", and another as "a great eccentric".
Ian, married to award-winning children's writer Celia Lucas, has one more book coming out this year - a biography of the Welsh painter Sir Kyffin Williams RA - which will make his total 26 in 25 years.
He has a few more - at least four, he says - that he describes as "works in progress".
After that, says Ian: "I am hanging up my word processor.

"The Royal Literary Fund has been kind enough to award me a pension for my contribution to Welsh culture - two of my books are on the curriculum of the Welsh universities, one for students of history, one for geography - and I will try to exist on that.

"Thereafter my only activity will be to write my blog: www.skidmoresisland.blogspot.com.
"I don't get paid for doing it, but I can write what I like, when I like."
Forgive Us Our Press Passes by Ian Skidmore is published in paperback by Revel Barker Publishing at £9.95

By June Withenshaw

AT ONE time, most village fetes and carnival parades would have seemed lacking without a display from the ubiquitous, pompom-swishing morris dancing girls.

Always eager to perform - and earn more medals for their uniform waistcoats - the troupes were an almost obligatory attraction, entertaining crowds and impressing competition judges with their high-stepping routines.

Some are still going strong - but the glory days of Frodsham's own champion country dancers are long gone.

It is now almost 30 years since the Frodonians Morris Dancing Troupe performed for the last time, packed away their pompoms, sold their tour buses and donated the proceeds to local charities.
Inspired by Frodsham Community Association's first village carnival in 1968, many local youngsters pressured residents Doreen Woods, Pauline Bibby, Miriam Jennings and Barbara Pearson to re-form the village morris dancing troupe.

The ladies organised an open night at the community centre for potential members and more than 100 children and parents turned up.
"We were overwhelmed by the interest and the Frodonians were born," said Doreen who, as a youngster herself, danced with the old Frodsham Trinitaires Morris Troupe.

The girls trained at the community centre and began fundraising.
Said Doreen: "Parents were an important part of our group and Ted Sutton, Don Mellor, Ron Astbury and Dennis Pritchard started a bus fund so we could buy our own coach to take us to competitions.

"This was so successful we ended up with two buses which were driven and maintained by Peter Davies, Jim Whitfield, Pete Edwards, Ray Spruce and Ken Deakin."
The Frodonians began entering competitions in 1969, said Doreen, "and for the next ten years our summers were taken up with morris dancing."

"We were very successful and I have only praise for all the girls. We were the All England Champions, the United Kingdom Champions, Welsh and Border Counties Champions and the proud holders of many more trophies."

The group had novice, tinies, juniors and senior troupes, said Doreen: "And our cleanliness and smart appearance became renowned with the carnival organisations, which can only be put down to the parents who cared for the uniforms."

She added: "I couldn't begin to mention all the children, parents and helpers by name, there were so many; but they were all appreciated very much. More than 250 girls took part during our ten years, many starting at four years old and staying with us right through to their late teens.

"But in 1979 numbers started to fall and it was agreed to end the Frodonians while we were still of a high standard."

GENERATIONS of pupils from a school which has now closed will gather on Sunday to share their memories of days in the classrooms.

Harthill Primary School shut in February after 140 years educating the local community's children.
A service will be held at Burwardsley Church at 2pm on Sunday Mar 16 for anyone associated with the school community.

Headteacher Mo Morron said: "It will be a celebration of the life of Harthill Primary School and all it has contributed to the local community over the last 140 years.
"Some children are coming back to take part in the service and give talks about their memories of the school."

The school was opened in 1868 as a Church of England school and closed under Cheshire County Council's Transforming Learning Communities review due to falling birth rates.

The Chronicle is interested in former pupils and staff's memories of Harthill Primary School. Tell us about your school days by leaving comments.

A RESEARCHER is looking for information on an airman from Heswall who died in the Second World War.
Mike Kleinlugtebeld, of Zwolle, in the east of the Netherlands, is researching the air battles over his county, Overijssel, during the Second World War.

He said: "Of each airplane that crashed I try to find information as much as possible.
"With the information I try to make a story which will help to remember the men who gave their lives in my country during the Second World War.

"On the night of April 3, 1943 a Halifax bomber of 419 (RCAF) squadron crashed in a town named Olst, some fifteen kilometres from my hometown, killing all seven crew members. They were buried in Olst.
"I have no information about this crew. I am trying to found out more about these men, which will help to give them the recognition and honour they deserve and make sure they will never be forgotten.
"One of the crew members was Flying Officer Peter Delamere Boyd, a navigator. According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission he came from Heswall, Cheshire.

"I was hoping if it is possible that you print my appeal in your newspaper. Hopefully it will bring up some information and photos of F/O Peter Delamere Boyd."

Mr Kleinlugtebeld says the Halifax II DT617 VR-G was part of 419 Squadron and taking part in Operation Essen. It was shot down by a nightfighter from III / NJG 1. This was Hptm Herbert Lütje. The Halifax crashed at 11.50pm at Olst.

The other crew members were Sgt S N Hall RCAF, P/O G W Lawry RCAF, Sgt J B Langley, Sgt L H Ransom, P/O H T Macdonald, Sgt B W Agar RCAF and T/o 1952 Middleton St.George.
If you have any information on Flying Officer Peter Delamere Boyd contact Mike at kleinlugtebeld@home.nl