Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

Hello Southport members,
I have just found out from the Bootle forum that The Grosvenor Hotel and Kew are in Southport. What I would like information on is The "Cheerio" Picnic Club.
I have 3 photographs I need help with although I feel Imay never identify anyone on them, but you never know so here goes.
My grandad was with a group of chaps obviously on outings of some sorts to the hotel on the 23 June 1922/3. I have a photo with the blokes on, unfortunatly I have no idea who any of them are not even if my grandad is one of the group!! I also have a photo of another group taken at Kew 26 Sept 1926. And an unidentified group/place on another. I can scan if needed, in fact I will try and scan anyway. My grandad was living in Empire Road Litherland at the time the pictures were taken.
I think it was a group of ex-soldiers that got together regularly after the Great war.
Ann

On my next trip into town (Southport) tomorrow I shall go into the library and look at a directory for the 1920s and see if I can find The Grosvenor Hotel. There is defintely an area called Kew and there was a station called Kew Gardens after some local gardens also called Kew Gardens.

This should take you to info about the station and it mentions Kew Gardens which closed in 1930

http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/stat ... ndex.shtml

OK this link doesn't work despite copying in iot google kew gardens station southport and go for the one that begins subbrit!!

HIlary
Ed Officer

Edited to correct link. MA

Thanks for that Ed officer,
I have scanned the pictures heres the link although I've not sussed out how to post just 6 pictures, never mind .
http://s846.photobucket.com/albums/ab22/anntrog/
Ann

took a gander at your pics...the Grosvenor was at 26 the Promenade...please take a look at the link

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w126 ... svenor.jpg

Just got back from town where I had a look in the directories. The 1924/5 and 1926/7 don't list the Grosvenor but I found it in the immediate pre war one as the address North Meols gave. Didn' have time to look in everyone between 1926 and 1939.

The photo of the group of men untitled I reckon is taken on the beach. The one Kew G I'll ask someone I'll see next week who might know about the pub/inn at Kew Gardens.

Hilary
Ed Officer

Thanks for that Susan,
What a lovely building, I don't know if it is definately the same
as the picture co it looks like 2 chaps are sitting on the kerb but I will keep your piccy with mine for future reference. All we need to know now is who or what the Cheerio picnic club was ?
Thanks again
Ann

Thanks Ed Off,
Much appriciated
Ann

I reckon the most likely place you'd find a mention of the Cheerio club would be the local paper that covered the Litherland area. I think this would be the Bootle Times. As you have some definite dates the Local History library at Crosby Library which hads the Bootle Times on film MIGHT do a look up for you. Google Sefton Library service and then loal history South Sefton.

Ed Officer

been doing some research for you on "cheerio club" seems that many men after the wars were affected with eye disorders that either left them blind or partially sighted. there was the cheerio club in canada and australia that organised day trips for these men and women...I am assuming if they had the clubs in these countries they would have had them here. the clubs were mostly organized by the unitarian church. I hope this gives you some avenues to explore.

Wow Susan,
As soon as I read your last post it reminded me that grandad WAS blind in one eye and I do remember my step gran used to talk about the Royal society for the blind, I can't be more specific as I was only 5 when grandad died, and step gran died years 25 years ago. And yes if those countries had them then the chances are we did too, a bit like the Sunshine club proberbly.
Ed Officer I will be onto the library asap.
Someone must know something as the groups name is quite odd don't you think.
Thankyou both very much.
Ann