Society wedding

Hilda Gaskell, the stalwart president of Leigh Literary Society, who has been with the group since 1949 married fellow member, Ken Finch, at Mill Lane Independent Methodist Church on Tuesday, and the couple are moving to Southport.

At the last session of the year retired teacher Hilda was given a surprise send-off as thanks for her sterling service. She and retired Hesketh Fletcher geography teacher, Ken, leave hoping the battling club will survive to toast the coming special year.

Former Westleigh and Manchester Road Girls' Secondary School teacher, Hilda, said: "There is a threat to the club's future but I do hope it will live on. At its peak it had 1200 members, but the remaining 40 survived last year thanks to the help of local historian Tony Ashcroft who has been wonderful.

"We are looking forward to joining a similar society or music society in Southport, but we shall be back to visit Leigh. We're not that far away."

The loss of the long serving members has prompted a call for new blood. The Society was formed in 1878 and responsible for the building of Leigh Technical College and the start of district nursing in the town.

Older

Committee member Kathleen Smith said: "The society was going to fold last year. Members are getting older and as they go no-one is replacing them.

"Mr Ashcroft offered to step in to help for a season, providing speakers for the fortnightly meetings."

He said: "Lots of societies are in the same situation, many have folded, but to lose Leigh Literary Society would be a pity.

"The group at one stage had its own drama and music society, botanical society and formed a Beautiful Leigh Society.

"Anyone who was anyone in Leigh society was a member, but times have changed. With industry gone and people working there is not the same commitment to the local community."