Bunbury Water Mill in Mill Lane ended its working life in 1960 but since then it has operated as a museum with fully working machinery.

Thousands of schoolchildren visited the site each year to see the mill producing wholemeal flour and oatmeal made from locally grown milling grain.

But the mill, which usually opens between March and October, will not reopen this year as United Utilities have decided to stop funding it. They hope to find another organisation to take it over.

The same site has been used for the corn milling for the past four centuries but the current mill was rebuilt after the previous one burnt down in 1844.

The Mill Island surface, like the rest of the country, has been covered in snow and ice for weeks but thousands of soldiers are all set to battle.

Can anybody help. Trying to find a branch of my family, Ruth Maureen Edwards born 1923 in Nantwich, married Kenneth C Brett in Nantwich 1953. If anybody can help please contact me, email

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I am looking for a good mate whom I have not seen for quite a few years now. His name is James Dilworth 31/32 years old, nickname Dilly. He was in the RLC Morley Troop. I am not sure if he still lives in Crewe but it is all I have to go on.

He will know me as Karl Killacky (Birdman). if anyone has infomation on James I would be very grateful if you could take the time to reply.

Thank you for your time.

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Derek McVety, 70, of Heathfield Road, Audlem, is spreading the word about the LMS Patriot Project Appeal - a campaign to build a Patriot class steam loco which would be used on the present Network Rail system rather than for show.

The picture was submitted by Vivian Jones on behalf of her aunt Ethel Bostock nee Downes, who features in the photo.

FOLLOWING the building of Crewe station in 1837, the Grand Junction Railway (GJR) built Crewe Works in 1840.

Crewe as we know it did not exist until the GJR built 200 houses to house workers, many of whom had moved from their Edgehill site.

A framed photo of the Dabbers' side of 70 years ago is one of the gems that has found the light of day after a remarkable coincidence.

Cllr Simon joined the group of authors at the launch of two books - which will help raise money for causes close to her heart.

'Crewe and its People' by Jules Hornbrook and 'From Crewe to the Cape' by Mark Potts, Tony Marks and Howard Curran were officially launched at the Hops Café Bar in Crewe, last week.

Dai Davies, 71, is launching his book, ERF - The Inside Story, at Crewe Library from 3-7pm on Monday, December 21.

Dai, who now lives near Johannesburg, joined the now defunct company as an apprentice in 1954 and went on to become managing director of its South African, Australian and New Zealand operations before retiring after 43 years' service.

He last visited Sandbach last year and was overwhelmed by the level of interest in the book.

He said: "I'd be thrilled to meet anyone at the Crewe event who used to work for the company or anyone who is just interested in learning more about the company's rich heritage."

David Green, of Lynton Grove, has completed a new book on a pictorial history of the villages of Haslington and Winterley.

It is hoped it will improve the Swanley Locks, where more than 10,000 boats pass through annually, many on their way to visit the newly crowned World Heritage Site of Pontcysyllte Aqueduct in Wales.

Since relocating to the Grade II listed Literary Institute in Hightown in 2005, the town council has spent more than £100,000 - but it remains in a poor state.

Earlier this year the council granted £8,000 for emergency building work but repairs cost an extra £10,000.

The plaque, which has been placed prominently on the churchyard wall along Narrow Lane, is the result of co-operation between St Michael and All Angels' Church and Crewe Green Parish Council.

Church officials say the historic church tower in High Street, which dates back to 1661 and stands 80ft tall, is in urgent need of repair.

There has been a church on the site of the existing building since 1200AD.