Treasurer retires after 40 years

Jul 11 2008 by Rebecca Edwards, Chester Chronicle

Treasurer retires after 40 years

FORMER bank manager Cecil Bateman has retired as treasurer of Frodsham Community Association after 40 years of controlling the purse strings at the town’s community centre.

Cecil, 81, is one of the original members of the FCA who rallied public support and raised funds to build Frodsham Community Centre in Fluin Lane.

He stepped in as chairman a year before it opened in 1969 and is widely acknowledged and respected as one of the main driving forces behind the successful ongoing development of the self-supporting facility.

Originally from Northop, Cecil moved to Frodsham with his wife, Beryl, and three children in 1965 when he was appointed manager of the former Midland Bank in Main Street.

He recalls the community centre project was “a real challenge.”

“A lot of money had to be raised and so many people worked very hard to make it happen.”

Cecil, who will remain as president of the FCA, agreed to be deputy treasurer for another year with successor 57-year-old IT consultant Graham Reeves.