Jade Wright talks to the people contributing to life in the town whose attributes include its landmark Saxon Crosses, half-timbered buildings, independent traders – and the world’s greatest brass band
ANN NEVITT
‘I am biased about Sandbach, I fully admit,’ says town mayor Ann Nevitt. ‘But it is a really exceptional. When I go elsewhere I tell people they really must visit, because there's so much here.
‘It’s such a friendly town. People talk to each other. There’s a real sense of community. You can go out and have a proper chat with someone in a shop or just walking by.’
The history of Sandbach is officially documented in the Domesday Book, but much of it predates William the Conqueror. The ninth-century Crosses standing on the Market Square's cobblestones are surrounded by a collection of independent shops and places to eat and drink.
‘We have lots of small independent shops across the town,' says Ann. 'There’s Peevers the gents' outfitters, and excellent shops selling gifts, ladies' clothes, flowers and local food and drink. Then we have the market, with a butcher, a sweet shop, cheese shop and cakes – so many cakes. It's got a really fabulous café, and a stall selling vinyl records, and clothing stalls. We have some lovely handbags and a fish stall. Sandbach is a town, with everything you could want.’
Queen Elizabeth I granted Sandbach a market charter in 1579, securing the town's economic success. The Charter Market is held every Thursday, complemented by Saturday markets and specialist markets throughout the year.
The town's hospitality offering ranges from traditional tearooms and inns to wine and craft beer bars and gastro pubs.
‘The Rotary club has a Sandbach meeting in the Market Tavern. And my husband just happens to be this year's president.’
Ann married her long-time partner Phil Brooks last September, just before the pair took office as mayor and Rotary president.
‘We don't see each other very often,’ she says. ‘We have to make an appointment.’ When they do have a chance to go out on the town, they are spoilt for choice.
‘There are so many excellent places, it’s hard to choose. There’s Chinese and Thai food, British pub favourites – you name it, it’s here. Places are opening all the time too.
‘We have the refurbished Swan and Chequers and the Black Bear Lodge on the square is a pub dating back to 1634. It was closed for a while, and it's just been reopened. The food is very nice. It’s good to see new venues opening.'
‘Foden's are the world's number one brass band, and they also have the world's number one cornet player in Mark Wilkinson,’ says Ann. ‘They are my charity for the year and performed at my afternoon tea concert in May, and are going to do another concert for me in March. I’m hoping to get a very well-known singer – watch this space on that.’
Ann is also chair of the Friends of Sandbach Cemetery and played a big part in saving the site.
‘I saw a newspaper article about plans to sell off land next to the cemetery in which a resident was quoted as saying: “I was born in Sandbach, bred in Sandbach, and I always thought that I would spend eternity at Sandbach, and apparently I won't”. It was so sad.
‘I knew the land attached to the cemetery was earmarked for burials, and was bought in 1932 for this purpose, so I started to investigate. I found the documentation that proved that it was cemetery land, and forced a review of the strategy. Instead of just saving Sandbach cemetery, all cemeteries in Cheshire East that have still got spaces will now be saved.'
It's just one of many good causes Ann, devotes her time to: 'I've always been involved in voluntary work,’ she says. ‘I started when I was 12, when I joined the Guides. We used to do the shopping for the old people and it's always carried on.' Ann is one of a team collecting surplus food from local stores and redistributing it to those in need, she cooks at a centre for the homeless and helps run the Christmas lunch for Sandbach pensioners. But it is working with children she has a special passion for: 'One of the things the mayor has always done is to switch on the Christmas tree lights on the cobbles. This year I'm going to run a competition for schoolchildren to find one to switch the lights rather than me,' she says
‘My civic service on October 6th in St Mary's Church, is called The Future of Sandbach, and the whole service will be run by children. I'm 82, and now, for me, it’s about future generations. I've got school choirs and music groups performing. My aim is to get the children interested and involved in Sandbach and to encourage them to make the most of all the town has to offer.’
As well as supporting the town's good causes and independent businesses, Ann Nevitt's year as Mayor of Sandbach is giving her the chance to wear the hats and dresses she’s been collecting for decades.
‘I started collecting hats probably 40 years ago,’ she says. ‘Other people collect stamps. I collect hats. I take any opportunity I get to wear a hats I don't care if nobody else is there in a hat. I will always wear one, so being mayor and being able to dress up is a dream come true.
‘I also have dozens of dresses bought over the years, and I look after them. They are wrapped up in plastic holders, put in the attic, and rotated, so I have different selections at different times.
'Fashions always come around again, and I never throw anything away
‘I have a navy outfit with yellow spots and a matching yellow jacket. I hadn't worn that for years, but spots are in at the moment, so out it comes.’
The only downside of her year as mayor is being tempted to add to her collection. 'At the Nantwich Show this summer, I bought an aubergine trilby, something I've been looking for for years, and it's just absolutely perfect.’
Hospitality is a key part of life in Sandbach, as Woody Barlow, founder of Bear Inns, explains: ‘There are so many diverse places to eat and drink, such as the Beer Emporium, which is great for cask ale, and the Wheatsheaf, a gastro pub with rooms.
‘K2H is an exceptional Indian and there is a variety of Chinese, Thai, and other cuisines to suit all pockets. Welles & Cross, opened before Christmas last year by Nick and Natalie Whitby, serves amazing drinks in a beautifully developed and very welcoming traditional pub.
‘Our family has lived in Bradwall, one mile from Sandbach town centre, for nearly a century. With its excellent transport links – the M6 is a mile away and Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham in easy travelling distance; Crewe station is 10 minutes' drive – the town has morphed into a really appealing place to live.
‘It has a very good variety of predominantly independent retailers and hospitality businesses, underpinned by a Waitrose.’
Woody is also full of praise for the community spirit in the area. ‘The town and its people are very active in organising many events throughout the year such as the Festival of Transport in April, 10k runs in August, Makers' Markets on the second Saturday of each month and the Bradwall Horse Trials in late spring, with more than 500 riders from around the country competing.
’We have an abundance of footpaths, canals, disused railways – including the Wheelock Rail Trail – and surrounding countryside makes it a great place to walk, run and cycle.’
Sports clubs and societies also play a big part in the town's social scene.
‘I’m a member of Sandbach rugby club, which runs four adult teams and has an exceptional set-up for children of all ages and has developed many future international rugby players over the years,’ Woody says. ‘We also have great schools, so it’s an ideal place to raise a family.
‘All that, and it’s even home to world-famous Foden's Band who, in September 2023, were officially crowned as the best brass band in the world.’
Woody Barlow runs award-winning pubs The Swan in Tarporley and the Lion in Malpas and with his wife Fiona, owns Bradwall Bakehouse, an independent bakery producing artisan bread to the Cheshire community and businesses.
When Andy Scott invites his fellow musicians from across the world to stay in Sandbach, they are amazed by the town’s rich history and strong independent food, drink and shopping community.
‘I lived in Manchester for years; I went to Royal Northern College of Music there, which is where I now teach, and then a colleague of mine, John Barber, brought me and my wife, Lauren, to Sandbach for the first time.
'John is principal trombone and chairman at Foden's, and he was so enthusiastic about music and about the town. He invited us to visit for a concert for young people. We loved it. Before we knew it, we were spending quite a lot of time in Sandbach. It reached the point where our kids were of an age when we needed to start thinking about high schools. So we moved over here just in time for our son to start at the boys’ school, and then our daughter, a year later, at the girls’ school.’
Lauren, a harpist with the Halle and the Liverpool Philharmonic, and Andy launched Sandbach Concert Series, putting on a show each month.
‘It was Lauren’s idea and we are now celebrating the 15th year,’ says Andy. ‘It's the last Wednesday of each month, and people come and play in the heart of Sandbach.
The town’s strong independent sector supports the grassroots music scene.
‘We have a lot of musicians who stay with us from America; we had visitors from Portugal recently, and the Netherlands,’ says Andy. ‘We always show them around and give them a little tour around town. We show them the cobbles. They can't believe how old buildings are. Perhaps because we're both self-employed, something in us wants us to support the town’s other independents, and we're blessed with them in Sandbach.
‘Bar Six and The Swan and Chequers are promoting a lot of live music now. The Welles & Cross is a lovely little pub in the heart of town.
‘There are so many quality coffee shops, tearooms, shops, pubs and restaurants. It's a real independent hub. Plus of course – another surprise for my American friends – there's the market. They were amazed by all the stalls – so many self-employed traders – it’s an incredible place.’
Andy’s musical connection with the town includes working with Foden's, where he was composer in residence for a decade. More recently, he’s written music especially to celebrate veteran band member Jimmie Charles, stalwart player, committee member, historian and librarian, who has just celebrated his 80th birthday.
‘Jimmie became a close friend and really helped me in my role at Foden's. I promised him I'd write him a short piece, because he's been associated with his band for more than 60 years. Covid came and life kept delaying the piece, but finally I wrote Of Good & Pure Souls, and Foden's gave it a world premiere, beautifully played by Mark Wilkinson (principal cornet), the band and Wendy Nugent (pianist) at an afternoon tea organised by mayor Ann Nevitt at Sandbach Town Hall, and Jimmie was there. I tried to capture in the piece of music some of the sort of qualities Jimmie has.
‘I noticed whenever I chatted with him, he'd always be talking about music, and he'd always hum or sing a little tune, so I wanted that quality in the music.
‘Foden's is incredible, and they're representing England at the European Brass Band Championship next year. They're exceptional. To have someone like Jimmie, who's been so loyal to them, is a wonderful, wonderful story, and another reason I’m so glad to live in Sandbach.'
