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Guests Share Memories at Anniversary Lunch
Popular Lancashire hotel, Barton Grange, held a celebratory lunch to thank local residents who shared their treasured memories to mark the 50th anniversary of the Barton Suite.
The hotel had appealed for members of the public to send in their photographs and tales from events held in the venue's main function room over the decades. Celebrations held at the Barton Suite include weddings, christenings and birthdays, as well as numerous corporate events and conferences.
All contributors were invited to a lunch at the hotel where their memorabilia was put on display.
Thornton Cleveleys resident Betty Moorhouse was presented with a bouquet of flowers at the event, to celebrate her being the first bride to hold her wedding reception in the Barton Suite, in 1960.
George and Joyce Helm, of Penwortham, married at Barton Grange in 1956, before the Barton Suite was opened, and their daughters also held their receptions at the hotel in 1978 and 1979. Joyce remembers that when she first met Ada Topping, grandmother of current managing director Ian Topping, she enjoyed high tea and felt very exotic as it was the first time she had been served pineapple with gammon.
Leyland couple Jack and Pat Thompson celebrated their wedding reception at the Barton Suite in 1965. The happy event was captured on cine film by a family member and a DVD of the home movie was played at the lunch, allowing guests to step back in time and see how the hotel looked more than 45 years ago.
Ian Topping, managing director at Barton Grange Hotel, said: "We were so impressed with the efforts people made to share their memories of the Barton Suite that we couldn't let it go unrewarded.
"Around 60 guests attended the lunch and it was lovely to hear people reminisce about their fond memories of the hotel. We celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Barton Suite in November with a gala dinner and we were very keen to feature our customers' tales from their events as part of the celebrations."
