THE excitement of a boat launch has been described by a Northwich man after seeing a 1950s photograph printed in the Guardian.

The picture, submitted by Ray Beedham, from Davenham, showed workers at WJ Yarwood and Sons watching a tug being launched on the River Weaver.

David Lyon, from Leftwich, worked at the Northwich shipbuilder's from 1955 until it closed in 1965.

He contacted the Guardian to share his stories with Remember When readers.

"Everyone stopped when a boat was being launched," he said.

"Everyone gathered round and all the managers came as though they had done all the work.

"Then someone would come and throw a bottle at the tug and that would be it, everyone would start cheering then go back to work.

"It was good fun and I enjoyed it.

"People I meet in town nowadays all remember Yarwoods and yet it's 60 years ago.

"I was 25 when I left and I'm 74 now.

"They were good days those days – I think I had the best days."

David was a joiner at Yarwood's and worked on cabins.

He remembered a man called Maurice Lockett who is in the photograph, pictured right of centre.

Ray completed his apprenticeship at Yarwood's in the mid 1950s and could remember Donald Whitehead, who he was apprentice to, as well as Bob Holland and Tony Lambert.

Yarwood's built more than 1,000 ships between 1896 and 1965, when it closed.

Anyone who has any more information about the picture or anyone who would like to share their photographs or stories of mid Cheshire in times gone by should email gbebbington@guardiangrp.co.uk or ring 01606 813624.