Every year, on a Sunday, close to what would have been Elizabeth Gaskell’s birthday, Gaskell Society members assemble at Brook Street Chapel in Knutsford. We lay flowers on Elizabeth’s grave and on that of our much-missed Secretary and Founder member, Joan Leach. We then hold a special, Gaskell-themed service This year, the event was on Sunday September 19th.

We had one of our largest ever attendances, with a packed chapel for the Rev Alex Bradley’s wonderful service and we enjoyed some excellent food-related Gaskell readings by Rosemary Donaldson, Christine Willgoose and Celia Crew.

The service was followed by a fun-filled day of Heritage Day celebrations at the Chapel.

Sincere thanks to the Rev Alex Bradley, to our readers and to everyone who attended this very special event.