Iris Aldridge Honorary President of Pelsall Civic Society

Pelsall Civic Society is proud to announce that Mrs. Iris Aldridge has been elected to serve as their new President.

Iris, a young eighty year-old, was born in Pelsall and went to Chapel Street School and Old Town Lane Senior School. At fourteen she began work making leather goods at ‘Specialties’, a company that was to become ‘Elkingtons’; at sixteen she went to work at ‘Crabtrees’ and, a couple of years later, in 1945, she married a renowned Pelsall cricketer Albert Aldridge whose numerous trophies can be seen in the glass cabinet in the background of the above picture.

Iris stopped work to raise her children, Carol and Tony, though sadly her husband Albert died in 1972 at the young age of forty-nine. Iris later went back to work as a home help for twenty-seven years before retiring from her job at the age of sixty. Iris says, “We have six grandchildren and four great grandchildren who are all wonderful people and I am so proud of them. I am honoured to be the President of a group of dedicated people who care a great deal about our village. I have followed the work of the Civic Society for the last forty years and they have done a lot of good work in the village, protecting its heritage and working with the council on planning matters. The Civic Society has created a History Centre for the village and is fulfilling a much-needed role in archiving Pelsall’s history for future generations.”

Andrew Weller, chair, says, “Iris really is a credit to our group and to the village – we are all proud of her. She retains many childhood memories and has a great knowledge of our village – having Iris as President will ensure that our group continues to flourish and the village is sure to benefit.”