Sydney and John Eric Hayes"

Chester Road, Buckley

1947

His sister, Edith Mary (known as Mollie), was younger than Eric. Eric was the eldest, then Mollie and then me. In the 1920's and 30's, we lived in 84, Chester Road opposite the Lane End Infants School, next to the pop works. Miss Newnes was the headmistress, followed by Miss Clara Hewitt and then Dorothy Griffiths. She organised Saint Matthew's Church garden fetes on a grand scale in the mid 1930's. They included tableaux on Cries of London, Children of Many Lands and famous paintings. One of them was The Boyhood of Raleigh, with Dick Catherall as Raleigh and Harry Dolby. We made the background with the stage made like a picture frame and the actors played out short scenes. She advertised the fetes by taking participants around the town in costume on an open lorry on the weekend before the fete on the Wednesday. The fete was held on the Saint Matthew's Vicarage lawn.

Mollie and I used to take part in the displays while Eric assisted in making and painting the backdrops.

Author: Hayes, Sydney

Sydney and John Eric Hayes"

Chester Road, Buckley

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