KADRAS Magazine Aug-Sept2010

Magazine for the Kelsall and District Rural Amenities Society (est.1969)

FOREWORD Read all about it! The Chairman of KADRAS’ annual report is included in this edition. Congratulations to the Bool family – worthy winners of both categories in the Scarecrow Trail. If you have withdrawal symptoms after Kelsall’s busy summer there is still the Jazz Festival at the Royal Oak to look forward to on 6th – 8th August John Gray, the Kelsall Correspondent for the Chester Chronicle has been very busy researching some fascinating information. See ‘John’s Jottings’ in the magazine. Kelsall has two new members of the Parish Council – Dorothy Berry and David Armstrong. Dot is regular contributor to KADRAS and this edition is no exception. Did any of your Kelsall ancestors serve in World War 1? If so the Family History Group would like to

hear from you. Please get in touch with Linda Clarke 01829 751836. Vale Royal Child Contact Centre needs volunteers. Can you help? See the article overleaf. PLEASE NOTE THE DEADLINE FOR THE NEXT EDITION OF KADRAS WILL BE SEPTEMBER 15th.

Items to KADRAS Chairman Ray Evans, Ingleside, Chester Rd. Kelsall (752494)

or Magazine Editor: Anne O’Donnell (751836) [email protected]

Please mark contributions ‘KADRAS News’. Magazine Contacts

Distribution: Graham Haspey (751949) [email protected]

Treasurer: Jim Struthers (751031) [email protected]

August - September 2010 Issue No. 213

for Kelsall's Bool Family!

This year's Scarecrow Trail winners were announced at Kelsall Primary School's Summer Fair on 12th June. Congratulations to the Bool family

who won both awards! Winner of the 'Best T r a d i t i o n a l Scarecrow' was the Bool family from Chester Road for their entry 'Little and Large', and the 'Best Themed Scarecrow' was won by the Bool family from Hollands Lane for their entry

There were 38 entries to this year's Scarecrow Trail which raised about £400 for Kelsall Community Primary School. The School's PTA would like to thank all those residents who displayed a scarecrow and bought a Trail guide

Magazine for the Kelsall and District Rural Amenities Society Issue No. 213

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Lunch @KMC

KEEP OUR SOCIAL HISTORY ALIVE The Habitats and Hill forts local history project is keen to trace photographs that your parents/grandparents/friends took around the 6 iron age hill forts along Cheshire's mid-Sandstone Ridge. Do you have interesting memories of the hill forts? Please contact us...... Email: [email protected] Website: www.habitatsandhillforts.co.uk

ComeDancing This group meets socially for Scottish Dancing for two hours on a Wednesday evening from 8pm in the Community Centre, from September

to May, under the excellent guidance of Sue Duckett. New members are always welcome. The object is to learn new dances, and to keep fit and to enjoy yourself at the same time. So if you feel you want to know more, contact either Lin Sensicle (752647) or Rosie Humphreys (752784), or come along on or after September 22nd for a taster.

Parish Council Welcomes

New Members Following the recent retirements of Rev Ian Enticott and John Gray, the Parish Council has co-opted two new councilors, David Armstrong and Dorothy Berry

David Armstrong has recently retired after working in education as a teacher, headteacher and secondary adviser. He has been an LEA Governor in both primary and secondary schools and was an elected

Parent Governor at his children's high school in Knutsford. He was also Chair of his local Citizens Advice area for five years.

Dorothy Berry has lived in Kelsall since 1957 and brought up her children here. She was a secretary with Shell Research until 1962 and later worked at Utkinton School and Tarporley High School until her retirement. She is an active member of

the W.I. committee and has served as Secretary and President in the past. Dorothy has taken part in many village activities, including KADRAS, the Day Centre, the Bridge Club and Kelsall Gardening Club. Both David and Dorothy are looking forward to contributing to the work of the Parish Council.


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RNLI Concert Update... The RNLI will hold a fund raising choral concert in the Kelsall Community Centre during the evening of Saturday 25 September. Margaret Corlett and the Vale Royal Singers will be appearing. It is also hoped that the Waverton Hand Bell Ringers will make a welcome return. A number of people have asked to listen to the group again. Details have not been finalized but tickets could be £10 and supporters will be invited to BYO bottle/glasses for refreshment if desired. Tickets should be available early in August and for further information please contact Edward Baskerville 01829 751967

KADRAS THEATRE SHOW The next show has been booked for Saturday October 9th The usual start time of 7.00 for 7.30 applies, and audience can bring their own drinks and glasses for before the show and in the interval. The show features Rhys Morgan and Rob West. They are a duo of traveling magicians from Oxfordshire with their show of old world Victorian comedy parlour magic. This show is their award winning Edinburgh Fringe sell out show, an evening of magic, mystery and whimsy bound to amaze us all. Tickets at £7 each will be available from late August from the usual sources, Alan Sensicle (752647), John Gray (752833), Ro Cowell,(752618) and Anne O’Donnell (751836).

‘step right up, folks, step right up!’

KELSALL BADMINTON CLUB The village Badminton Club meets in the Community Centre on a Tuesday evening for 1 and a half hours between 8pm and 9.30pm between September and end of March, starting September 21st. New members are always welcome to try their hand. For any informal enquiries phone Alan Sensicle on 752647 or Sharon Harley on 759362 or just turn up on a night.

Christian Aid Week 2010 I am pleased to inform you that Christian Aid week 2010 raised £2112

plus a contribution of Gift Aided donations of £249. Thanks to all in Kelsall and Willington for their donations and a massive thank you to all the loyal people who distribute and collect the envelopes.

Irene Skinner Christian Aid Co-ordinator


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Our demonstrator for the March meeting was Eleanor Griffiths, who has been a regular visitor to Kelsall Flower Club. She has been a demonstrator for some years and is now training to be a judge, which has taken her abroad to Holland and Spain for the National Demonstrators’ Symposium. Eleanor’s designs were very creative. A particularly striking one consisted of woven phormiums and yellow tulips and a black cube containing ‘Black-eyed Suzy’. The competition for this month was judged by Eleanor and entitled ‘Patron saint’. Competitors were invited to submit a design to depict a patron saint of their choosing. The winner was Linda Dickinson with a lovely red and white design representing Saint George. Chris Tapley was second with Dorothy Eastham third, but all the entries were outstanding and it must have been very difficult for Eleanor to choose between them. April’s meeting was ironically entitled ‘Come fly with me’ as our demonstrator, Ann Hughes, was left stranded abroad because of the ash cloud which put a stop to all flying in our air space. She did her best to get home overland, but did not make it for the meeting. However, the committee and members rallied round to provide a very enjoyable evening. There was a

q u i z f o l l o w e d by refreshments, and flower arrangements made by m e m b e r s o f t h e committee were later raffled after an excellent demonstration by Mary

Hall, our chairman, who did a wonderful job at such short notice. May’s demonstrator was Jane Pugh who had ‘Dance the night away’ as her theme. Jane was really funny and had everyone laughing with her stories about her time at dance classes (a short demonstration followed each arrangement). Her designs were accompanied by music and were really lovely and were taken home later by lucky winners of the raffle. The competition was ‘Shades of evening’ and was won by Jackie Mortimer, with Linda Dickinson second and Chris Tapley third. Visitors to our club are always welcome at a cost of £5. Why not become a full member? To join, contact Mary Hall (Chairman) on 751136 or Helen Stubbs (Secretary) on 752379, or come along to a meeting on the third Wednesday of the month at Kelsall Methodist Hall.

Anne Newnes Editor’s note. We apologise to the Flower Club for the omission of their report in the last edition of the magazine.

Kelsall Family History Group

Did any of your Kelsall ancestors serve in World War I? An old document has recently come to light in St Philip’s Church

listing those local men who took part in WW1. Sadly it was never completed and apart from the names of the enlisted men there is very little detail. Kelsall Family History Group has taken on the task of researching into as many names as possible to find out what happened to these men on their return home. Those who gave their lives are listed on the War Memorial on Chapel Green and some research on those names has already been carried out. Kelsall Family History Group is a small,

enthusiastic group of people who meet at 7o’clock on the last Tuesday of the month at Kelsall Community Library, based at Kelsall School. Their aim is to find out more about the history of their own families by sharing ideas and problem solving to compile their family tree. If you had a relative who fought during WW1 or know of anyone, friend or neighbour who may have information that would help this research, please get in touch with Linda Clarke from the group on 01829 752899. It is a little over 90 years since the conflict ended and high time Kelsall knew more about its sons who fought and died during the ‘War to End all Wars.’


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ANY OLD IRON SCHEME Many thanks to everyone who has so far contributed to the scrap metal scheme since I started last October. Particular thanks to those who have contributed several times. By collecting and selling scrap metal from the residents of Kelsall and District, we have so far managed to raise £145.00, of which £110.00 has been given to the Parish Council. All

proceeds raised go to the Kelsall Green Fund. This is greatly appreciated, but I know we can do better. During our family walks around the village I have seen many skips on peoples drives, with what appears to be big lumps of old metal being thrown away. If you are having a throw out, please bear me in mind. Just contact me via the details below and I'll pop round at a time to suit. This is a long term project, and I hope that it will also encourage the residents of Kelsall and the surrounding area to get into the swing of recycling, whilst raising money for our local community. Any old scrap metal is wanted: iron, steel, brass, copper, lead and aluminium are the main ones and most common. Anything is considered, I haven't refused anything yet! Unfortunately, I still am not in a position to take away large old domestic appliances of any description - sorry. Many thanks.

This summer the Club had visits to Brooklands in Mouldsworth; Highgrove in Gloucestershire; the National Wild Flower Centre near Liverpool and Sandymere at Cotebrook. All were all blessed with good viewing weather. At Prince Charles’ Highgrove Garden two of our members were able to inform the guides on two points: 1) Why the head gardener specifies cow manure in preference to horse manure? 2) What is the difference between “shake” and “shingle” wooden roof tiles? *See the answers below. We welcome KADRAS readers to the coach trip to Trentham Gardens (pictured) on Saturday September 11th. Please phone Jenny Talks for details. All our visits have the benefit of guided tours. A recent article in The Cottage Garden Society newsletter reminded people that all parts of the

lily plant are POISONOUS to cats. In particular the pollen can cause liver damage, and we should take care that lily pollen doesn’t fall on a cat’s fur, where it could be ingested during grooming. Our evening meetings start again on Tuesday September 14th at the Methodist Church meeting rooms at 7.30 (talks start about 7.45). Sue Nicholas will be talking about “Winter Colour”. For or any further information please contact Jenny Talks ( secretary) on 759470 or Jane Beattie ( chairman ) on 751032. *Answers to the Highgrove questions: 1) Cow manure is well digested and doesn’t contain the weed seeds that can come into the garden with horse manure. Highgrove is totally organic and hand weeding is labour intensive. 2) A shake is split into shape with an axe and a shingle is sawn. The Oak pavilion built on the site of a former huge cedar tree has a steeple clad with oak shakes and the magnificent chicken House has a cedar shingle roof.

Kelsall & District Gardening Club


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Once again, the Spring Bank Holiday at the end of May saw folk fans from far and wide descend on Kelsall for the Chester Folk Festival. As always, we had been planning the event for over a year, but our careful preparations were thrown into disarray when we learnt in early April that the Morris Dancer public house, around which the festival is based, had closed. Fortunately, the site owners, Enterprise Inns, were most sympathetic and helpful and gave us permission to use all the pub grounds as usual and install our own provisions for supply of food and drink. A variety of food vans were booked and the Bar Events Company, run by Dave Powell, a Kelsall resident, provided a generously sized beer tent with copious supplies of local Weetwood ale. The main concert marquee, camp site, craft fair and children’s entertainment were situated on Kelsall Green as usual, by kind permission of the parish council. The atmosphere around the pub was a little quieter than previous years, but on the whole we felt that the arrangements worked well and a good time was had by all. By making more use of our other venues – Kelsall Community Centre, Kelsall Social Club, The Farmers Arms, and the Royal Oak (where Paul & Rachel welcomed us with open arms),

we were able to fit in all the events we had planned, and give people plenty of opportunities to see the many high quality performers we had booked. T h e s e i n c l u d e d t h e Churchfitters ( lef t ) from Brittany, who were voted the m o s t p o p u l a r a c t and brought Sunday night’s

concert to an energetic conclusion; Mawkin:Causley – a young English award-winning band, who headlined on Saturday; Dan McKinnon, from Canada, who was one of our most popular acts in 2009; guitar virtuoso Martin Simpson; and singer-songwriter Pete Morton who topped the bill on Monday. The Festival Service on Sunday morning in the marquee was well attended as usual and the congregation enjoyed some songs from Mal Waite and John Finnan. Professor Panic and his crew were on hand as always to keep the youngsters entertained, and the morris dancers and mummers put on their usual lively displays throughout the village. Many thanks to the parish council and the residents of Kelsall for continuing to support and welcome the festival. The dates for next year are Friday 27th – Monday 30th May and we look forward to the full complement of public houses in Kelsall being open and able to share in the festivities.

- Chester Folk Festival -

Featuring...

The High Society Jazz Band

Savannah Jazz Band

6-in-a-Bar with Rosie

Willy’s Weepers

Old Fashioned Love Band

Blue Magnolia Jass Orchestra

New Orleans Umbrella Parade with Marching Band

For Booking & Enquiries Call 01829 751208 - Caravans (hard standing) and Camping

£6 per Band Session £30.00 per Weekend Pass

£40.00 per Weekend Camping

Friday 6th to

Sunday 8th August

Royal Oak, Kelsall


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At the recent AGM the chairman, Ray Evans, reported on the activities of KADRAS over the last twelve months.

The society still produces 850 copies of the magazine with the production still being carried out at a school in Chester. This new format has given Anne O’Donnell, the editor, more scope to include photographs and the person responsible at the school enhances all the articles with illustrations. Anne was thanked for her continued efforts as editor. All the people involved with producing the magazine were thanked especially the distributors because without their help we would not be able to circulate the magazine so widely through the village. A copy of the magazine even made its way to South Africa to a former editor, Gwen Edwards, who wrote an article on life in her new home.

In conjunction with Cheshire Rural Touring Theatre Network, now renamed Cheshire Arts, KADRAS have put on two further events at the Community Centre. In November, AJTC, a small theatre group based in Guildford, put on an excellent play ‘On the Black Hill’ and in March we were entertained by Louise Parker, a young jazz singer and her band. Both productions were very well received and all the helpers involved with putting on these shows were thanked. KADRAS are still committed to the links with Cheshire Arts and our concerns over its future have been allayed and there are two events planned for the autumn.

We are still willing to sponsor individuals or groups from the young people’s bursary, as long as it is deemed worthwhile and two payments have been made in the last twelve months to young people in the village – one to a young man doing voluntary work in Kenya and the second to a young lady embarking on a field trip to the USA.

Another annual fixture now is the village Christmas tree and we are grateful to St Philip’s for their permission to erect the tree in the churchyard and to Dave Darlington at DD Trees for his continued support in supplying the tree at a very generous discount. We had a few problems with the lights last year with some evidence of possible vandalism and we will review our strategy for the lights before

next Christmas. The New Years day walk was another resounding success with 40 – 50 people in attendance.

Donations made in the past twelve months have included one to St Philips Holiday club run during the first week of the summer holiday, one to St Philips youth club to help with their funding for ‘Kelsall’s Got Talent’ and another planned for the next Kelsall ‘Beer Festival’ after the great success of the inaugural one.

The hanging baskets are out in the village again and so far are looking very good. Kelsall Plant Centre on Chester Road was thanked for planting them up at a very competitive price. Discussions have started on doing some renovation work on the Millennium garden on the Chapel Green and we hope to proceed with that soon. We have also planted daffodil bulbs at various sites around the village as well as donating bulbs to Kelsall School and the Village Green to plant. We are planning some more bulb planting on the approach to the village in this coming autumn.

The chairman thought that it had been another successful year for the society and concluded by again thanking everyone involved with the activities of KADRAS, especially the committee.

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT from the KADRAS AGM

Curry’s Triangle The two figures (8 inches by 5 inches) below are rearrangements of each other, with the interior corresponding triangles and other two shapes having the same areas. Nevertheless, the second figure has an area one unit larger than the first figure (as indicated by the grid square containing the dot). CAN YOU EXLPAIN FROM WHERE THE EXTRA PIECE HAS APPEARED?


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ECCENTRICITY PRESERVED IN STONE Thomas Francis 1762-1850

Long before Bebington became suburban, Thomas Francis lived there, working as a stonemason. He appears to have been obsessed with death throughout his life but avoided it for over 80 years. One of his more morbid whims was to have two coffins made by a Mr Walters of Birkenhead, and every birthday he lay in one and made his wife lie in the other. As they increased in girth over the years, Mr Walters was called in to widen the coffins accordingly. He didn’t pay the bill for many years, saying that until the lids were fastened down, the job was incomplete. He dug his own grave in St. Andrew’s churchyard, lined it with stone, and every Saturday it was his custom to lie in it for an hour or two, smoking his pipe in quiet contemplation. When he was not contemplating death, he enjoyed inviting guests to dinner, providing a lavish spread in typical Victorian fashion. The table would be meticulously laid with tureens and pots of ale. On other occasions guests would arrive to see the table set as usual, but when the covers were removed instead of a Baron of Beef there would be a single roasted sparrow in each one which Thomas would carve and serve with great solemnity. One can hardly imagine peals of laughter greeting the sight, especially as the ale was limited to a spoonful or two in the bottom of the pots.

During the Napoleonic threat he built himself a personal Martello tower, armed with wooden guns with which to deter the French. He also embellished the walls surrounding his house with various puzzle stones. Annoyed by village loafers (yes, they had them then, too), he carved the following message: AR UBB I NGS TONEF ORAS SE S This translates as “a rubbing stone for asses”. Thomas Francis could not have dreamt how long his stonework would provide interest, but during the war American soldiers stationed nearby, were often “caught out” on the rubbing stone. Another stone read: “Subtract 45 from 45 that 45 may remain”. This works out as: 987654321 - adds up to 45 123456789 - adds up to 45 864197532 - adds up to 45 When the wall was demolished the stones were removed to Mayer Park in the 1960s where they were deteriorating under attack from the elements. However, thanks to the efforts of local residents, the stones are now safely installed in the foyer at Bebington Civic Centre - just over the road from Thomas Francis’ house.

D.Berry

Vale Royal Child Contact Centre needs volunteers VRCCC is a member of the National Association of Child Contact Centres. We provide an opportunity for non-resident parents to meet with their children on neutral territory, on a weekly or fortnightly basis. We operate from Wharton Children's Centre in Winsford and the centre is manned by trained volunteers. Many are from local congregations - Churches Together in Winsford & District supported our launch in 1993 - but our remit is non-religious and non-political. Many of our volunteers have been with us for fifteen years or more. We would very much welcome new volunteers, both male and female. Further information about NACCC is available at http://www.naccc.org.uk/ I would be happy to try to answer any questions you may have, but the contact details for publication are those in the article, our co-ordinators Nigel & Heather Di

Angi Holden VRCCC (Recruitment & CRB)


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KELSALL Both the June and July meetings of Kelsall WI have been tinged with sadness, as the passing of Stephanie Burton and Clarice Palmer was remembered with a minutes silence. After the business had been disposed of at the June meeting we were intrigued by the many pieces of wood - all shapes and sizes – which were piled in front of the President's table. Nicky Dakin was our speaker and as she assembled them into a beehive, she explained the function of each item as they were slotted into place. The picture she painted of life inside a hive was fascinating. The functions of the Queen, workers and drones were all explained and we marvelled at the complex organisation needed to produce honey. No extra processing is needed; the honey can be bottled just as the bees make it. It is absolutely pure, the flavour varying according to which flowers the bees have been visiting. There are many virtues of honey, especially its healing properties. Nicky Dakin was very enthusiastic about her bees, despite having been stung just before she left home. Apparently they only sting if annoyed, and she felt on this occasion they were justified as she had been disturbing them a little too much! On Wednesday 9th June we enjoyed a visit to Chatsworth House and gardens. On a changeable day, we were lucky to be able to enjoy the gardens before rain started, fortunately just as we were about to have a conducted tour of the house. The day concluded with a visit to the well stocked and mouth-watering Farm Shop where many purchases were made. During the weeks following Christmas a group of members have been reviving the almost forgotten art of crochet, and a display of their work will be mounted at the September meeting. Continuing on the craft theme our former President, Margaret Davies, will be holding Silk Painting sessions at her home in August, and it is hoped that the results will be included with the other display. Different entries from members were made at the recent Cheshire Show when Dot Berry and

Pam Chambers won a Highly R e c o m m e n d e d a n d a Commendation respectively. At the July meeting Jill Martin announced that Kelsall WI now has a dedicated website www.KelsallWI.org.uk. Advance notice was also given of a garden party to be held on 27th August at the home of Mr & Mrs T M Ryder which will be themed “Red Letter Day” The seats in the Chapel Schoolroom that evening were arranged in a circle in order to accommodate the arrival of the Kinnerton Morris Men. We were not disappointed either with their dancing or their appearance. The type of dancing they practice is from the Cotswolds, and though many people think it is only danced by males, there are women’s teams in the country and also mixed teams. The Kinnerton group was formed in 1976 when 6 young men decided they would form a team which has gone from strength to strength since then. At first these young men tried to learn from books but eventually had assistance from the Mersey Men, who were well established on the Wirral. It is generally thought that British folk dancing could be an amalgam of dances from European countries, but it was being performed as early as the 15th century and was very popular in the reign of Henry VIII. The Kinnerton Men’s programme was very varied as it included an explanation by the leader, a short history of how the music evolved, a folk song sung by one of the dancers and a jig played by the fiddler; and those 6 men danced their hearts out on a very warm evening, earning the rapturous applause of the audience. On August 4th the Rev. Michael Burgess will take a light hearted view on "For Better or for Worse" and on September 1st Gill Adlington's subject is "Painting - How I Got Started". If you would like to come along as a visitor for either of these talks, we meet at 7.30pm at the Methodist School Room and you will be most welcome.

Dot Berry and Kath Wrigglesworth


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We all say it. Probably everyday. Probably more than once every day but has anyone ever thought where the phrase OK comes from and what does it really mean? I was surprised to learn that there are many theories ranging from the Scots' ‘auch aye’ to the initials of a Swedish production worker who used to initial his approval of manufactured items 'OK.' Olaf Knudsen perhaps? But the OK thing about OK is that it understood in any language. OK? Even the French who can be very precious about their language and the intrusion of Americanisms accept it. They even tried to get the English word 'sandwich' banned. Damned cheek. It's one of those phrases that can be used in a multitude of different ways and the author Bill Bryson reckons that OK is 'America's single greatest gift to international discourse.' It can serve as an adjective - the meal was OK, a verb - can you OK this for me? A meaningless filler - OK then let's get started.

According to Alan Walker Read of

Columbia University who spent years tracking down the derivation of OK

a fashion developed among young wits of Boston and New York in 1838 of

writing abbreviations based on intentional illiteracies on the theory that semi literate President Andrew Jackson's spelling of 'all correct' was 'oll korrect.' and thus it became OK. The wits went on to produce more, such as KY - Know Yuse and OW - Oll Wright. But OK stuck. It has apparently been the matter of heated dispute almost since it first appeared in print in 1839 in the Boston Morning Post at the same time as Martin Van Buren known as Old Kinderhook was running for re-election as President and an organisation formed to help with his campaign was given the name Democratic OK Club. OK became a rallying cry throughout the campaign and quickly established itself as a word throughout the country. It didn't do Van Buren much good though, as he lost the election. But OK seems to have won.

Plastic has been one of the greatest discoveries of recent times. It has enabled manufacturers to produce ever cheaper, light, colourful, popular goods. It comprises much of our packaging which can be recycled to produce more of the same. But in the middle of the Pacific Ocean there is what is fast becoming an environmental disaster that will affect each one of us and what could turn out to be, in the opinion of some experts a worse disaster than the Mexican Gulf oil leak. It is known as Pacific Island and comprises up to 100,000 tons of swirling plastic waste the size of France and predicted to double in size every ten years. That is if nothing is done about it. Plastic waste such as this does not biodegrade it simply breaks up into smaller pieces some the size of grains of sand. This is washed up on beaches as in Hawaii. It is also eaten by small fish who are in turn eaten by bigger fish and so on up the food chain to the ultimate predators - human beings. Much of this plastic is toxic as when it is in the oceans it acts as a sponge and soaks up heavy metals and other pollutants. It has been reported that syringes, toothbrushes and cigarette lighters have been found in the stomachs of sea birds that have mistaken it for food. It has been estimated that this plastic rubbish has caused the deaths of one million seabirds and 100,000 marine animals. Plastic is believed to constitute up to 90% of all rubbish floating in the world's oceans. Neither the Atlantic Ocean nor the North Sea have escaped. It is an international problem of frightening proportions and cannot be solved easily. For many

‘The Plastic Vortex’


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There are many versions of how Kilroy first appeared almost all purporting to be true. What can't be disputed is that Kilroy was mainly seen during WW2 both here and in the USA. The cartoon first appeared in British newspapers as 'Chad' possibly as early as 1938 and may have been invented by British cartoonist George Edward Chatterton with a caption underneath always illustrating one shortage or another. Sometime later in the war Chad and Kilroy met with the British cartoon appearing over the American slogan It then began appearing all over both countries chalked and painted on buildings, fences, walls, anywhere and everywhere.

Possible original British US Chad from circuit Chad Chad diagram The most plausible Kilroy story is that it began in the States where it seems Chad and Kilroy met but in the USA always with the same statement beneath. The story goes that it started in a shipyard in Massachusetts where workers, particularly riveters, were paid piece-time rather than by the hour. The work to calculate their pay was inspected at the end of each shift when the inspector would leave a chalk mark to show where they had finished. But some of those in the following shift would erase the chalk mark and place it further up the line of rivets so earning themselves more money. One infuriated worker complained about this practice and an inspector, James J Kilroy supposedly put an end to the practice by writing ‘Kilroy was Here’ next to the chalk mark so that he had a reference point when he began his next count. ‘Kilroy was Here was found in the most unlikely locations hidden behind bulkheads and other impossible places and soon it became a national icon and went everywhere American forces went. One of the best Kilroy scribbles was found in a toilet it went:-

Clap my hands and jump for joy I was here before Kilroy.

But underneath was written

Sorry to spoil your little joke I was here but my pencil broke.

Kilroy was such a powerful icon an account from the BBC says that Hitler was convinced that Kilroy was the code name of an Allied spy. Not only successful but bold as he always left his mark. And that mark was everywhere so much so that Hitler believed his security could be penetrated and that Kilroy would assassinate him. According to these rumours Hitler became so concerned that he diverted resources away from the war effort and reassigned them to finding Kilroy. Towards the end of WW2 during the Battle of the Bulge in the Belgian Ardennes a reporter for Life Magazine told this story. The American 101st The Screaming Eagles had been pinned down in Bastogne for many weeks during one of the most severe winters of the war. They had managed to keep the enemy at bay but had suffered many casualties, not only by the Germans but from frostbite and sickness. ‘Late afternoon, after much fighting we reached a hilltop. Bastogne lay below us only 3000 yards and 2000 Germans away. Abrams lined up his tanks side by side and ordered a charge. He told his men to keep on going and keep on shooting, without stopping to aim until they reached the town below. McAuliffe, the commander of the 101st the General who had said ‘Nuts’ to the Germans when they asked him to surrender was quite polite. ‘It’s good to see you Colonel’ he greeted Abrams. He wasn’t kidding’ And there on the black, charred walls of an abandoned barn scrawled in white chalk was the legend of McAuliffe’s GI’s

‘KILROY WAS STUCK HERE’ A great reminder that even in the middle of the horrors of war humour cannot be quashed. The Chad cartoon died out in the 1950’s with the end of wartime austerity rationing but Kilroy lived on and can still be s e e n v e r y occasionally today on motorway bridges and other s e e m i n g l y i n a c c e s s i b l e places.

years the world has concentrated mainly on the affects climate change will or may have on our planet. If our Oceans and Seas continue to be poisoned by plastic there may not be a climate to worry about.


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SEPTEMBER 2010

Wed 1 Methodist Church "Coffee & Chat + Bring & Buy" – 10.30/11.45am Methodist Hall

Wed 1 W.I. "Painting - How I got started" - Gill Adlington - 7.30pm Methodist Hall

Thurs 2 Good Companions "Story of Roberts Bakery" - Keith Birkett - 2.15pm Methodist Hall

Sat 4 St Philip's Walking Group To be arranged - Meet at 8.45am at the Community Centre Ring 751967 for details

Mon 6 Jazz Night At the Royal Oak - 8 to 10.30pm

Tues 14 Gardening Club "Winter Colour" - Sue Nicholas - 7.45pm Methodist Hall

Wed 15 Flower Club "Members Evening" - 7.30pm Methodist Hall

Thurs 16 Good Companions "Memories of a Vet" - Derek Carter - 2.15pm Methodist Hall

Sat 25 RNLI Concert - Vale Royal Singers - Community Centre

Tues 28 Kelsall Family History Group

"Meeting" - 7pm - Resource Library CP School

Thurs 30 Good Companions "Playing the trombone" - Arthur Pedder - 2.15pm Methodist Hall

AUGUST 2010

Mon 2 Jazz Night At the Royal Oak - 8 to 10.30pm

Wed 4 Methodist Church "Coffee & Chat + Bring & Buy" – 10.30/11.45am Methodist Hall

Wed 4 W.I. "For better for worse" - Rev Michael Burgess - 7.30pm - Methodist Hall

Thurs 5 Good Companions "Garden Meeting" Becketts Croft, Brooms Lane

Fri - Sun

6 to 8 Jazz Festival At the Royal Oak

Sat 14 St Philip's Walking Group "Rivington Pike" - Meet at 8.45am at the Community Centre Ring 752177 for details

Wed 18 Flower Club "Just Fantasy" - Beryl Cotton - 7.30pm Methodist Hall

Thurs 19 Good Companions "Social Meeting" - 2.15pm Methodist Hall

Tues 31 Kelsall Family History Group

"Meeting" - 7pm - Resource Library CP School

DEC 4th - Forgotten Fortress by Theatre in the Quarter.

A piece inspired by ancient hill forts along the Sandstone Ridge in Cheshire.

Documents

KADRAS Magazine Aug-Sept2010