'Astounding' attendance at Goostrey archive exhibition

The archivists dug deep into the collection for their most ambitious display so far at the Crown Inn as part of Goosfest.

The exhibition included village life in images from the Victorians to children in the 60s, 70s and 80s.

Former pupils, some with grandchildren now at the school, were delighted to renew old friendships and share memories with school pals who no longer live in the area as they examined the dozens of images on show.

School items also included two canes and a copy of the punishment book that reminded some former pupils of their misdemeanours in class.

The display also focused on the 17th century Crown Inn, formerly a farmhouse called the Mainwaring Arms, showing how it has changed over the years.

A large amount of the material was from the Smallwood Collection compiled by Jean Smallwood, now 91, and her late husband, Colin, and donated to the archive by their son, Stewart.

From the Challinor family album a picture of Geoff Challinor (right) and his sister Dianne and twin brother, John, as children at Goostrey primary school

Jean was a prolific photographer and enthusiastic local historian like Colin.

She spent many years collecting old photographs, articles and stories of interest which were published in a book Goostrey Remembered as her legacy and contribution to the village.

The visitors included MP Fiona Bruce, and a former resident in the village, Geoff Challinor, whose twin brother, John, still heads the family building firm of Challinor and Sons.

Geoff, chairman and curator of the Anson Engine Museum, Poynton, where he lives, brought family photographs for the Goostrey archive to copy and add to its collection.

There were promises, too, from visitors of donations of items of local interest for safekeeping in the archive.

Now as a result of its success, the archive is to put on another display at the village hall to coincide with St Luke’s Christmas Fair on Saturday, November 30.

Geoff Challinor (centre) with archive members Stewart Smallwood and Derek Hardacre

Chairman Roger Burgess described the attendance as ‘astounding’, and said it was encouraging the archive was attracting so much interest locally as well as further afield from people with family links to Goostrey.

He said: "We no sooner opened the door than we were sharing our exhibits with a large number of visitors.

"The attendance was like that all day with the flow of visitors never stopping. Some even confessed they just dropped in for a few minutes but ended staying for over an hour because they found it so interesting.

“The success was partially driven by people wanting to know more about the village or relive old memories and we also had people offering more information which we will be recording in future projects for the archive.

Visitors showing a keen interest in school pictures

"We can't repeat too often our appeal that residents downsizing or with family members passing away not to dump in the skip pictures and documents, how insignificant they think they are, before offering the material to the archive.

“We are happy to copy and return original items if they want to retain them."

Stewart Smallwood, a member of the archive group, said: "It was a fabulous day that made all of the efforts over the last few years very worthwhile.

“Mum and dad would be delighted that their lifetime of recording Goostrey’s history is continuing to cause so much interest among residents old and new, and also with those who came from further afield.”

The archive is open at the village hall on Tuesdays between 2pm and 4pm, and Thursdays from 10am until mid-day when visitors and items for inclusion in the archive are welcome.

It is also available on the first Wednesday evening of the month from 7pm until 9pm and at other times by appointment.