WAS former First World War General Earl Haig met by hail and snow at Chester station?

Did Upton jockey Billy Dutton ride 100-1 longshot Tipperary Tim to Grand National glory in 1928?

And did Blaster Bates demolish Upton Mill in the early 1960s?

The answer to those in the know is 'yes', 'yes' and 'not quite sure' - but if anyone can confirm Blaster, the Fred Dibnah of Sixties steeplejacks, blew up the 'old mill', then Upton Local History Group would like to know.

The group is hosting a landmark exhibition of the village launched by Chester MP Christine Russell tomorrow (Saturday, March 27) between 10am and 4.30pm at the village hall in Heath Road.

The exhibition is the result of 18 months of hard work by Upton residents aided by Chester City Council's history and heritage team.

The Upton group has been compiling all manner of memorabilia from grandmother's tales around firesides to historical documents that can now be viewed on their website: www.history.uptonbychester.org.uk.

Organiser Phil Pearn explained: 'A lot of work has been put into the exhibition about our history but we are hoping to get many more together to help us get more information so the more people that come the better.'

Like scholars drawing on their past, the gang of Upton devotees are slowly picking up the jigsaw pieces of their rich and colourful history - and what they have unearthed makes fascinating reading on their website.

Upton, with its former Roman encampments, is recognised in the Domesday Book and has centuries worth of facts and legends and characters leaping out of black and white photographs and dusty old documents.

Take Upton workaholic Arthur Godwin who never took a day off from his beloved milk round. He delivered milk from the old post office/grocers opposite the Egerton Arms at the Bache. He used a horse drawn cart until retirement in the 1950s.

A suitable airport for Chester was mooted at Long Lane, at Duttons

Farm, as it is the highest part of land in the surrounding district. The news hit the headlines in The Chester Chronicle on March 14, 1931.

Then there is the reminiscence of Second World War Liverpool evacuee Eddy Eddison who vividly recalls his dramatic first day in his new village.

He said: 'My first recollection of Upton - as an evacuee - was arriving at the now defunct Upton Halt station. Climbing the big oak steps some 30 to 40 of us were met by ladies and gentlemen who ushered us into cars to St Mary's School.'

Local history wouldn't be the same without a ghost story and Upton has more than a closet full.

Legend has it that on the occasion of an Upton wedding, a ghost was supposed to have walked through the walls of Upton Farm and disappeared. The group is currently working on a major local history book about the area, due for publication early in 2005.

Drop into Upton Village Hall to share your memories and memorabilia with the history group. Refreshments will be available throughout the day.