St Paul’s People

Ann Sawer

Ann is from farming stock. She was born just before the war in Ashley, near Tatton, where her father ran a farm on the estate. In those days so many farms were part of the Tatton estate that Lord Egerton could walk all the way to Manchester on his own land! Ann’s father came from Burnage -his father farmed on Green Lane, Heaton Moor - but he was the third child in the family and so he had to set up on his own. Ann says her childhood was idyllic. She was an only child and lived a gentle country life, completely sheltered from the horrors of the Second World War.

Ann went to the local school in Ashley which had 24 children on the register, aged five to eleven, and one teacher. She was very happy there but her parents wanted a broader experience for her and at nine she was sent as a weekly boarder to Yorston Lodge in Knutsford. She was too young to travel there daily on her own, hence the weekly boarding. At 13 she moved to Culcheth Hall in Altrincham, cycling to the station every day to catch the train. She was not sporty at all, enjoying academic subjects more, especially Maths, and she was very popular at school as her friends loved coming to play at the farm.

Ann left school after O levels and might have been expected to then work on the farm, which she did in her leisure time, but she had other plans and joined the District Bank (now part of NatWest) in Altrincham. She was still living at home and enjoyed all the new skills she was learning at the Bank and it was there that she met Edgar. They got married in 1961 but the rules stated that they could not work together at the Bank so Ann left employment. In fact, as a married woman in those days, she would have had to have gone on the temporary staff even if she had moved to another branch. She and Edgar bought the house in Heaton Moor where they still live now.

Although she was very happy, Ann found it difficult to settle in her new home. It felt very enclosed after the open spaces of the farm. She continued for some years to go back to church in Ashley where she had got married and where her parents were very involved. In fact both of her children were christened there – Andrew, born in 1962 and Jane, born in 1964. Edgar was a keen cricketer and played ay Heaton Mersey Club. Gradually Ann became more involved with the social side; she cooks an excellent apple pie and was a good organiser of cricket teas! Meeting Joyce Robinson in 1963 through the Cricket Club led to Ann feeling happier in the Heatons and part of the local community. Joyce was a member of St Paul’s and encouraged Ann to join the Mother’s Union, which she enjoyed very much. Soon Ann started attending St Paul’s herself.

Ann did not return to work after having her children. Edgar continued working in the Bank, gaining seniority over the years. However, once both children were in school Ann became involved with voluntary work for Meals on Wheels and also for the Red Cross, which she was introduced to again by Joyce Robinson. Ann eventually became central organiser for the Four Heatons and is a trained first aider. She has had many interesting experiences in her work with the Red Cross including escort duty – taking people to hospital appointments – and social bathing - helping out the Health Visitors by bathing elderly or disabled people once a week in their own homes. This sort of voluntary work has now been brought to an end by Health and Safety regulations and the expansion of Social Services but it was an important service in those days and one in which close relationships were formed. Ann is also part of a team which used to lead certificate courses in local secondary schools and now offers one-off classes in First Aid in primary schools as well as secondary.

Despite being not sporty herself, Ann found herself part of a sporting family and so decided to take up golf. Edgar played and so did his mother who introduced Ann to Heaton Moor Golf Club where Ann is still a member and plays most weeks. She was Lady Captain in 1992. She and Edgar follow all sports keenly, especially cricket. She is also a keen bridge player.

Ann describes herself as a ‘simple, hoping Christian’ who doesn’t doubt anything and tries to show her faith through what she does. Her commitment to St Paul’s, which has grown over the years, is testament to this faith.  She likes being involved and is a good organiser – her training with the Red Cross has helped her to fulfil many roles involving working with people, whereas she is naturally more reticent. She was on the PCC for a time some years ago but found it rather too high powered (in those days) and was pleased to find a role organising the flowers in church, which she still does so beautifully. Now she is enjoying being Church Warden – a role she felt called to do – though is facing the current situation of the vacancy with some trepidation. It amuses her that her mother did the flowers at Ashley Church and her father was Church Warden and now she is following in both their footsteps at once!

With four grandchildren, two still very small, her garden and her activities with golf, the Red Cross and St Paul’s, Ann continues to lead a very busy and interesting life – far from the ‘simple, dull person’ she made herself out to be when I requested this interview.                                  Virginia Lloyd