From the Chronicle files - Thursday 17th July 2025

ALL ABOARD: (Right) Some of the children from Bernard Street, Glossop, who boarded three coaches for a day trip to Blackpool 75 years ago this week.  

It was an excursion parents organised every summer which was eagerly anticipated.

Glossop Co-operative Society stores and bank probably made more money than the rest of the town’s trading companies put together and at its annual general meeting in July 1950 was announcing sky high profits.

From the January to June sales had increased by £5,400 over the corresponding period in 1949 with takings surging to an incredible £77,580.

Heading for Brisban on the SS Chitral from London Docks were Mr and Mrs Wilfred Makings of Albert Street, Hadfield , who were determined to make a new life in Australia. 

Wilfred, who was employed as a butcher at family firm Mettrick’s,  had spent six years as a soldier fighting in the Second World War.

Two Glossop councillors and the town clerk were criticised for attending a meeting in Manchester to discuss granting subsidies to the Hallé Orchestra and Liverpool Philharmonic.

The newspaper said the council could seemingly not afford to pay bands to play in Manor Park, so why support ensembles in two cities whose concerts few Glossopians would attend.

Glossop National Savings Committee was reporting a surge of support by Glossoppians in the Government scheme to raise cash to ‘rebuild’ Britain following the Second World War.

In just four weeks £13,475 had been invested locally, most of the money being spent on buying Defence Bonds.

Glossop and Hadfield Trades Council was supporting the town council in demanding an improved ambulance service following complaints from local people of lengthy waits.

The trades council, which was made up of trades union delegates, was also calling for a speeding up of the town council’s house building programme.

Still on housing and tenants moving into what few homes the council had built were complaining that they were only receiving £15 towards decorating costs.

They said that it was a really low figure considering they had to buy the paint for several rooms and either do the job themselves or employ someone to do it.

A Glossop vicar and his wife were receiving gifts galore from St. Luke’s Church, which he was leaving after three years as priest in charge.

The Rev. A. Cullen was presented with a typewriter, book token and a set of fish knives and forks, with Mrs Collen getting a double necklace of pearls.

Patients in Wood’s Hospital (now the home of Reuben’s Retreat), Glossop, were getting a little light relief from boredom thanks to Scouts collecting and bringing in magazines and a regular supply of donated books.

One man who was recovering from an operation and preferred painting to reading was given a bottle of Indian ink so he could pursue his hobby.

Glossop’s Victoria Hall’s weekly dances were attracting a variety of bands new to the town and plenty of enthusiasts eager to dance the night away.

Latest attractions included The Melochords,  Peter Hough and his Music, the Regent Band and the Mel-Bray Trio. Also packing in the crowds was the ever popular Empire cinema.