Mary Vivien (Viv) was born on 21/01/1933 in Detroit Michigan USA to Robert
and Nellie Chetham. 

Bob and Nellie had lived in the US for approximately 10 years and Bob worked for Henry Ford in the tailors shop. They decided to come back to England due to Nellie being homesick when Viv was still a baby and her older sister Pauline was 3. 

They moved back to Manchester and initially lived above a tailors shop they owned before moving to 441 Bury New Road next to the fire station. 

Viv enjoyed school although she was admittedly more practical than academic. She left school and went to catering college where she won a number of awards for baking. A well known confectionist in Salford called Jacobs took her on and she specialised in celebration cakes. 

Viv loved to spend her spare time with her friends and they enjoyed dancing especially modern ballroom at church halls and later the Ritz in Manchester.  She met James (Jim) her first husband in the Salem Methodist church in Salford and they were to be married at Pendleton Church. They briefly moved to Moss Side and opened a paper shop before moving to 7 Monmouth Avenue in Sale when their son David was born. 

They separated when David was 3 years old 

My mum was a wonderful person who loved to make people happy. I can honestly say that she could not have done more for me during the 48 years we had together. My earliest memories are of her singing (badly, she had a terrible voice) her way around the house whilst cleaning or making her cakes. The house was always full of the smells of baking. Many of her family and friends came to her for their celebration cakes, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries. At Christmas even up until last year she made hundreds of mince pies and loved giving them to family and friends, She even used to go to peoples houses and help them to make mince pies. She loved xmas and was making Christmas cakes from September to allow them to mature.

When my Grandma suffered a heart attack and Granddad was struggling to cope mum did not hesitate to bring them to live with us. All I have are the fondest memories and it was lovely to have noise in the house but I know my mum found it hard, She never moaned however and I remember those times being my happiest. In the 70s there were occasional black outs and as a child those were my favourite times. We used to sit in the kitchen with Grandma and Granddad with the calor gas fire on eating sandwiches under candle light.

My mum was lucky to have so many family and friends around her. She used to leave early for work and my Auntie Margaret would take me to school. We spent special holidays together and I fondly remember our time in Anglesey in the caravan with my aunts, uncles and cousins. Numerous trips to London, Bournemouth, Kent and especially Cornwall will always be in my thoughts.

Around this time of our lives my mum met Wilf who lived down the road at number 13. When Grandma and Granddad passed away we moved in with him and they married. This was when my mum was introduced to the golf club which became such a big part of her life. She met many long standing friends at Ashton on Mersey and became a pretty decent little golfer during her time as well. She loved the ladies section, the competitions (which she won her fair share of) and also the politics which she loved to talk to me about. She met some wonderful people and loved her time with the girls especially trips away in Spain. Without golf, her friends there, the outlet and exercise it provided I don’t believe she would have been as fit and sprightly as she was.

Mum loved all sports and I have spent many a happy Saturday eating breakfast watching football and cricket with her. She loved people, parties, boxing day at Auntie Beryls with the family, meals out simply socialising.

When I left home and moved into Hall Avenue, I would still go back to 13 Monmouth to have my tea and take my washing, I never understood why my friends used to laugh at my self professed independence.

 Linda

Vivien was always desperate for a daughter in law and then a long came Linda. My Mum could not believe her luck when they had so much in common particularly the love of Christmas and baking. They spent many happy times baking cakes for Oliver’s Birthday and much to Linda’s delight she would often pop in with baking gadgets from her days out to the Lakeland shop with her friends. Linda learnt so much from Vivien and is now carrying their passion through to Oliver . She will be smiling .

Wilf unfortunately passed and a few years later she met her current partner Ron. It was strange at first as I was older but I soon forgot my manners and resumed sitting with my feet up and helping myself to the fridge.

Oliver her grandson and apple of her eye was also born and she loved him dearly, that is however until her second grandson of the furry kind, Striker became part of the family and Oliver was second on the list. Striker the best fed dog I know was always being treated by Grandma. When she would come to the house she beeped her horn and Striker would be uncontrollable. Mum would take him for a walk and she told me she would sit on the park bench and just talk to him, He loved her dearly.

She loved to spend time with Ron in Spain and enjoyed a month in Spring and another in early Autumn. She always took frozen steaks and other home cooked meals and just loved relaxing in the sun.

Christmas was her favourite time of the year. Along with the cakes she loved her friend and family time. All mum wanted was to spend time with people. She loved a full table for Christmas dinner and I will never forget her taking part in the singsong, 12 days of Christmas. We took her to 20 stories in Manchester as a treat one year. Being a little deaf she had a habit of simply saying yes if she could not hear you, The waiter asked would you like a side with your meal yes, green beans yes, potatoes yes, spinach yes, how about a bottle of red wine yes, I recommend this one £250 yes. At the stage I had to interject.

Mum passed away on 09^th November at home and at peace. Linda, myself, Oliver and Striker had visited her that day and she seemed so happy. Ron and I were with her and I'm so thankful I've had these last few months with her.

Oliver

I always remember when my Mum & Dad went out and Grandma would come to look after me and Striker. We would watch the Cricket together while Striker was driving us mad wanting Grandma to give him more treats. 

I used to love it when she used to sing a long when I was doing my
rehearsals for my play and when she made my tea . My favourites were steak mash and peas and Grandma’s meat pie. She made the best pastry. Grandma always loved Christmas and loved putting her tree up with all her little ornaments she had collected. Also she always wore a Christmas jumper, badges and Christmas earrings which made me laugh. I remember when I was playing golf and Grandma was watching me, I hit a good shot and she was so delighted and was clapping me and cheering.

I will miss my Grandma but I have lovely memories of her that I can always think about.

I’m sure she will be in our hearts and thoughts forever.

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