Results tagged “Crewe” from Chester Chronicle - Chester Memories

THE much awaited book telling the story of the Crewe Kings speedway club will be published in May - but there is still time for Chronicle readers to have their stories included.

The launch of When They Were Kings - The Crewe Speedway Story will coincide with the 40th anniversary of British League speedway beginning at the old Earle Street stadium in 1969.

The authors Mark Potts, Tony Marks, Kev Tew and Andy Scoffin have all but completed their labour of love, which is to include all the heat details from all of the 350-plus meetings which involved the Kings. Junior and training school matches and details will also be included.

The authors are interviewing ex-riders for the final chapter of the book, who include Dai Evans, Dave Morton, John Jackson and Phil Crump.

The foreword has been penned by Dave Parry, who was involved in the Kings story from start to finish, first as a rider, then manager and promoter.

Readers are being invited to send in their memories and stories of the Crewe Kings to the Chronicle office at 32-34 Victoria Street Crewe; e-mail crewe.news@cheshirenews.co.uk. The top 10 will be published in the book and the best one will receive a free copy.

The launch next year will involve many ex-riders who will be present to sign the books.
The 375-page hard back book, published by Brookmark Publications of Nantwich (Quayside Creative) will feature many never previously published photographs and will retail at £12.99 (ISBN 978-0-955-6733-4-4).

AN OLD journal has been discovered which sheds light on life in South Cheshire more than 170 years ago.

It was written by Ellen Tollet of Betley Hall and describes two years in the life of a privileged 22-year-old living in the 1830s.

She was the daughter of a wealthy landowner and close friend of Emily Darwin, the wife of Charles Darwin.

The journal and a collection of letters have been transcribed by Staffordshire woman Mavis E Smith into a book called Ellen Tollet of Betley Hall which includes 60 illustrations and sketches.

The journals were found by Mrs Smith in the Shropshire archives and she got permission to transcribe them.

Mrs Smith said: "It's been a tremendously rewarding experience transcribing this book and I feel like I have got into the head of someone who lived an incredibly long time ago.

"The journal was written before trains and at a time when Crewe was just a small village."

From tragic deaths to house parties, the diary includes the deepest thoughts and witty observations of a well-educated lady.

It follows Ellen Tollet's experiences travelling before trains, and at a time when women did not enjoy the same freedoms as they do now.

The book also includes unpublished letters from Florence Nightingale and Charles Darwin.

It costs £12.50 and can be bought from the Nantwich Bookshop or directly from Mrs Smith on 01782 750176.

Any profits from sales or subsequent talks Mrs Smith may make will be given to a cancer charity.

Event to celebrate gymnast's life uncovers snapshots of the past

BUNBURY'S claim to gymnastic fame may not have started with Olympic champion Beth Tweddle.
Decades before, in 1949, well-known village resident Marjorie Rumsey competed for England in Sweden's Lingiad, a world gymnastics festival featuring 13,360 of the world's finest gymnasts. This is twice the number of gymnasts that had appeared at the 1948 Olympic Games in London.

She also competed, at the age of 33, in the National Festival of Youth and Sport at Wembley in 1948.
Miss Rumsey moved to Bunbury in the 1950s and lived in the village until her death last December at the age of 92.

This week her friends will gather to share stories of her and view the many artefacts she kept from throughout her life.

She kept boxes of memorabilia from the Swedish event, including tram tickets, rules for competitors, the programme and the costume she wore for the competition.

According to her nephew Graham, she had to pay for the costume herself.

Marjorie Rumsey was born on January 21, 1915 in Burton on Trent and trained to be a teacher, specialising in gymnastics, games and dance. She taught in Christleton, Nantwich and Crewe.

When she first settled in Bunbury, she lived at Ivy Cottage, close to the woods at Sadlers Wells. It was here that an interest in birds and photography flourished and Graham has discovered slides, cine film and photographs of wildlife and village life.

Miss Rumsey never married after her first love was killed in the Second World War.
She was always very active and enjoyed hockey, Scottish dancing, walking, rock-climbing and tennis.
After her retirement she joined the Bunbury Wednesday Club.

Graham is preparing to share his aunt's work with friends and neighbours at the Jubilee Playing Fields Pavilion in Bunbury on Thursday May 15.

The memorial party will take place from 2.30-4.30pm and later from 7.30-9.30pm will focus on the photographs and cine film that she took of the village and village events in the 1960s and 1970s.