DEATH OF GOOSTREY CENTENARIAN


  Goostrey's oldest villager, Mrs Ruth Hough, has died only months after she moved into a home in the area. Ruth, who was 102,  lived in Brookfield Crescent and until recent times continued to take an active interest in local life and events. She was a regular member of the congregation  at St Luke's parish church where, with her late husband Ron, a former head teacher at Goostrey primary school, she was also a bellringer for many years. Her memories of local life will live on after her recollections were recorded on tape by Goostrey Archive Group for its oral history collection. She also "starred" in a radio documentary of author Alan Garner's nativity play "Bringing Holly from the Bongs" which was first performed in now demolished stables behind the Crown Inn 51 years ago. As part of the  BBC Radio 4 Extra programme about the play broadcast on Christmas Day 2015 she was interviewed as one of the behind the scenes helpers by producer Andy Cartwright along with original members of the cast who were pupils at Goostrey school. A villager said: "Ruth was an amazing woman. She took a tremendous interest in Goostrey and its organisations. Even at her advanced age, in recent times she continued to play bridge and went to church, but in the end I think she just wanted to slip away peacefully and quietly."
A former neighbour JulieAnn Leigh-Lockett, who now lives in Grand Island, New York State, with her family writes:
" She was a wonderful lady.She taught me how to make a hundred sandwiches from on tin of salmon for rose day refreshments and how to make perfect marmalade without bubbles, just like she did for the Women's Institute. I lived right next door to her for many years. A sad loss for all of us with memories".
Mrs Audrey Godfrey, the wife of the late Rev Ian Godfrey, vicar of Goostrey, who died last year, also has fond memories of Ruth,
She said: "Even though we were here for a short time,  my lasting memory of her will be with Ian and Ruth sitting in wheelchairs next to one another holding hands watching the Rose Queen place her wreath on the memorial at St. Luke’s last year. I said to Ian ‘are you two timing me?’ he replied ‘of course’ and Ruth chipped in ‘and haven’t I found myself a corker’! Happy days."

 VILLAGE BAR BANKS ON BEER BUFFS

Richard Jepson mans the pumps

A sample of the Bottle Bank's offerings

With pubs shutting at an alarming rate and turning into supermarket owned convenience stores, it is a blessed relief to see the trend locally has been reversed. Richard Jepson, who has hosted The Beer Emporium in Sandbach since taking over in July, has expanded his craft beer, wines, spirits bar and shop and take-out to the centre of Holmes Chapel. It was a blow I guess for customers to see the departure of the Nat West Bank from the village but Richard's venture in the former premises more than makes up for the loss - at least for the aficionado of real ales and other favourite tipples. The bar’s opening – named the Bottle Bank - happened sans fuss or fanfare. It was only when  I noticed a couple of iron tables and seats on the pavement outside the old bank building in London Road did I realise he  was open for business. Richard formerly worked in telecoms but the bearded mine host in charge of the hand-pumps – looking every inch  a jolly brewmaster - admits beer is his real passion. Lots on offer is locally brewed, including Merlin from just up the road at Arclid as well as brews from places around including Mobberley, Macclesfield, Wincle and Congleton but, like the Sandbach bar, it provides beers from around the world, and also like the Beer Emporium, will soon be boasting and offering some 400 different ales, lagers, and cider to take away or drink in, once in full swing. The Bottle Bank reminds me a bit of times before pubs were “poshed” up and fine dining became the norm… a place where you can stand at the bar and feel you don’t have to fork out for a meal!    Richard says local pubs have been very supportive of the enterprise which he believes will help to attract more visitors to the village. We should say cheers to that and wish Richard every success!

*Click on pictures to enlarge