UPTON residents got together last weekend for a good old yarn about life in the vibrant suburb.

Upton-by-Chester Yarns was organised by the local history group at the village hall as part of the Essar Oil Chester Literature Festival.

One topic up for discussion – and indeed dissension – was the name of the milkman who delivered a daily pint to residents until he retired in the 1950s.

Was it Arthur Godwin or Arthur Nixon who delivered milk on a cart marked Godwin’s Dairy from Nixon’s grocers on Mill Lane at the Bache?

Phil Pearn, of Upton Local History group, said: “Gladys Wootton, one of Upton’s nonagenarians, is definite about him being Mr Godwin – assumed to be the brother of Mrs Nixon, wife of Edward Nixon, who owned the shop.

“I used the name Godwin in the book Upton-by-Chester – A People’s History but people in the ‘No, he was Arthur Nixon’ brigade are still going strong!”

Whatever his name, Arthur operated out of Bache Dairy with Edward Nixon, who ran the shop and also the garage. The grocers was situated opposite where Bache shops are now, in what is now a small car park.

Edward’s daughter Gladys, who worked in the shop, was the last surviving Nixon and is remembered by many in Upton today.

Arthur retired in the 1950s and lived until the early 1970s. His milk cart was pulled by Polly the horse who was still taken on the usual round after Arthur’s retirement just for the exercise.

Phil added: “During his actual milk rounds the story goes that local lads would call 'gee-up' and get Polly to move on while Arthur was still placing bottles at the door.”

More than 50 people attended Sunday’s event with the accumulative age of the six speakers being well over 500.

You can join the Godwin/Nixon debate by emailing jo.henwood@cheshirenews.co.uk.

Copies of Upton-by-Chester – A People’s History are still available from Bache Post Office for £7.