We have organised a get together for a handful of people this week who are tracing the family tree of the well established Cheslyn Hay family – the Thomases.  They will be meeting at our base at the Salem this Tuesday morning to view our photographic and documentary archives on the Thomas family and it should prove to be a very interesting and productive day.  The base is open for all and sundry every Tuesday from 10am – 4pm.
Following a recent request on John Ridgway who was killed in WWI, our Military Researcher has responded to supply a photograph of his grave but is querying the family’s story that he was drowned in the Dardenelles, whereas it appears from the War Diary he was killed on the battlefield.
We recently appealed for anyone who suspected that their house is haunted and we did have two responses that were followed up and will be included in a book to be published some time in the near future.  One story relates to the smell of freshly toasted bread on the landing of a property of a well known house in Cheslyn Hay and the other concerns a property on the site of an old church.  In this instance the owner has had a visit from a team of paranormal investigators that the author has been collaborating with and he fully agrees and is keen to hear what they find – all done scientifically and with no seances.
More photographs have come in this week of Carnivals, including those from 1953 and 1977. Plus excellent photos of a schools football match on the Old Falls in 1949 and some of the High Street shops in 1959.  We have also received a fascinating illuminated plan titled ‘Earl of Shrewsbury Lodge No 1520 Installation Night 1938′ with a string of well known Cheslyn Hay people on it.  It appears to be some sort of Masonic Lodge organisation and it has recently been found in one of the old houses of the village.
In this week’s ‘Memories’ column, Ivor Plant, whose grandparents were George and Agnes Plant of 63 Littlewood Road, recalls all the residents around Littlewood from 1945 – 60 in a facinating article. More details can be obtained from the email below.

trevor.cheslynhayhistory@talktalk.net

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