GOOSTREY resident John William’s striking picture (above) offers a blast from the past, showing the impact of hurricane-force winds which hit the British Isles in 1976.

The picture shows villagers John Clegg and Len Grimsditch, who was clerk to Goostrey Parish Council, inspecting the damage left by gales which hit the area during the night on New Year’s Day.

At the time the storm was described as the worst to hit the British Isles since 1953, with reports of 1.5 million incidents of damage.

John said: “High winds appeared to spring from nowhere in the early evening of New Year's Day, and within minutes trees were toppled and roof tiles went flying as the storm ripped through the area.

“Three 200-year-old elm trees between the then vicarage and Bridge House in Blackden Lane toppled one after another, one crashing across the lane, but fortunately no-one was hurt.”

The picture (above) of the tree which crashed across the lane was discovered among several newspaper photographs from the Grimsditch family donated to Goostrey Parish Archive.

The parish archive is still actively engaged in the work of the collection despite the coronavirus pandemic, and is accepting donations of material and images of local interest.

The chairman is Roger Burgess, who can be contacted on 01477 535443 or roger.burgess67@icloud.com

Below are pictures from the archive of Goostrey in the late 60s and early 70s.

Knutsford Guardian:

The original centre of Goostrey, the East end, late 1960s, as the village began to grow with new housing developments. The picture was recently donated to Goostrey Parish Archive with the Cumberbirch Collection. GosPA/Cumberbirch Collection

Knutsford Guardian:

1973, the West end of Goostrey. GosPA/Cumberbirch Collection