Grapevine asked Elaine for her story…..

 I was born in Warrington, the second of three children, and grew up in Stockton Heath. All three of us went to the Stockton Heath Primary School, and we also attended Sunday School at St Thomas’ Church where we were confirmed - and also where I married Bernard in 1971.

After leaving school I trained as a comptometer operator - a form of accounting machine which became obsolete with the arrival of computers. It was while doing this work in the “machine room” at Warrington Borough Treasurers Office that I met Bernard, who at the time worked in the Accounts Department. When we married in 1971 we bought our house in Springfield Avenue in Padgate, the house I still live in today.

Our daughter Rachael arrived in 1973, followed three and a half years later by Ian. At that time I had never attended Christ Church, and returned to St Thomas’ to have them both baptised. It was  shortly after Ian arrived that we decided it was time for Rachael to start Sunday School, and I was encouraged to take her to Christ Church by my dear friend Christine Knight, who lived just across the road. It was at this time that I started to attend Christ Church on a regular basis, where I remember being made very welcome.

As Rachael and Ian became more involved with Church activities and the Scouts and Guides, Bernard started to become more involved and joined me as a regular worshipper. Between us we have both, on more than one occasion, been members of the PCC, and Bernard was with the Men’s Society and I with The Mothers’ Union. Sadly Bernard died in October 2000 after a long battle with MS and other conditions associated with this crippling disease.      

I still work four days a week as the Manager of a busy Property Management Department in Hale, Altrincham, for a large firm of local Estate Agents. I have worked there for twenty-five years,  managing the maintenance of properties on behalf of landlords. On Wednesdays I look after Rachael and Marc’s children, James and Lucy, who some readers will know. They will soon be joined by Ian and Sue’s new arrival, Freya Rose, who arrived in mid July. I feel very lucky that all my family live quite close by, including Mum and Dad who still live in Stockton Heath.

I have no great ambitions in life but I do take a great deal of pleasure from spending time with family and friends. I enjoy worshipping at Christ Church and consider several members of the congregation to be very good friends.

Many thanks Elaine for telling us your story.