Local history quiz in memory of community stalwart

The test of the grey matter was originally devised as a lockdown activity.

Gareth was asked to provide some of the 22 questions and submitted his contribution just before his sudden death in May at the age of just 38.

Coun Ready’s fellow ward representatives and local history enthusiasts also helped to put the challenging knowledge test together.

Now the three residents who know their neighbourhood best have been revealed and presented with a prize courtesy of Aspull Domestics.

Lynn Ronan, Jean Roberts and Lisa Brabrook have been crowned the ward’s leading local experts after doing best in the quiz which ranged from famous people from Aspull to the area’s renown in the coal industry to the name of a now-vanished nightclub.

Coun Ready said: “I organised the quiz as a bit of fun during lockdown and the response was unbelievable.

“People really love their history and local area.

“Gareth Jones loved Top Lock. When I thought of doing a community quiz about our area, Gareth was one of the people I turned to and he sent me his questions two days before he tragically died.

“I hope people enjoyed these local brain teasers inhis memory.”

The winners expressed delight and local pride at their successes.

Lisa said: “I never win anything so this was a brilliant surprise. We have a great community and a history to be proud of.

“Being an Aspull resident all my life the quiz was a real trip down memory lane.”

Jean, who was presented with her prize on her 75th birthday, said: “This competition was a great idea, it was the talk of the village.”

The quiz captured the imagination of the ward, with some people going to unexpected lengths to try to gain an advantage over the competition.

Steve Simm from Aspull Domestics, which donated the prizes, said: “This was great fun. I was even followed round the shops by residents trying to get clues to the answers.

“It was a good job we had social distancing.”