My Story: Josephine Anne Caress

I have two musical memories that enriched my life and of which I still fondly remember.

Early in the 1970's I joined an Irish group which used the Parish community centre in Delamere Street. I learned to play the fiddle and tin whistle. Prior to my family and I moving to Crewe I had had Irish dancing lessons and was now able to dance again. The tuition was for youths. We practised at the centre on Sunday afternoons. Some of us played in a band (I played fiddle) and we successfully competed in contests in England and Ireland. One competition was held at St Thomas More (then Blessed John Sherd).

The musicians and dancers gave many concerts and we were particularly busy around St Patrick's Day!

It gave a wonderful opportunity to learn and appreciate Irish traditional music and dance.

In 1998 my husband and I married in St Mary's Church. At that time he was a member of the Co-Op Band (who on the 11th of June gave a concert at St Thomas More to help in the Friends of the School fund raising). The Band played at our wedding which meant a great deal to us as did the music we chose.