Some five years ago we were thinking of moving house
from where we lived in Stockport and after many months of searching
decided that we would like to live in Gatley.
Jacqui had been born and brought up in Cheadle and only left the
area when we got married so in some respects it was a homecoming
for her. We both liked the idea of living in a "village" atmosphere
and, although Gatley was surrounded by urban development, it seemed
to us to still retain it's village charm.
It was some months after we moved here that we first met Eric Chandley.
We had noticed him around the village and we had met him, his sons
and their wives socially on a few occasions. It didn't take us long
to fall under the spell of his stories and memories of what the
village used to be like many years ago.
Last year, we were pleasantly surprised to find that he had written
a series of articles in one of the local papers which we followed
with interest. Jacqui told him at the time that he should write
a book and Eric must have thought about this a great deal, for early
this year he approached us over a pint in the "Mop" and asked us
to help him.
None of us had much idea where to start but, in the words of the
song, you "start at the very beginning" so here goes.
We hope that this little book gives you as much pleasure reading
it as we had listening to Eric recount his tales of yesteryear and
reading of his many experiences over the years. Eric must have spent
many long winter nights getting his memories down on paper.
Not bad for a young man of 83!!
Jacqui and Barry Laslett May 1989
As you can see, the above was written 6 long years ago and a lot
of things have happened since then. The book spent 3 years unpublished,
as we were unable to find anyone who would take a risk and publish
it. In the end, and as a last attempt to let Eric's public share
his many experiences, I published it myself with help from my wife
Jacqui and our son David, even printing and binding the copies before
putting them on sale. We sold more that 600, some of them went as
far afield as Australia and the Far East and eventually Eric was
able to present a handsome cheque to the St.John's Ambulance. That
was 3 years ago and some people have requested further copies so
here it is, along with "A walk down Memory Lane" also by Eric. Barry
Laslett December 1995.
