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Chris Skelhorne

Chris Skelhorne, who died in March 2024 aged 85, was president of IWA’s North Staffordshire and South Cheshire Branch, having been actively within the branch throughout its 50 years, as well as being a leading campaigner in the restoration and reopening of the Caldon Canal.

[The following is an edited version of an article, by Julie Arnold, that first appeared in summer 2024 edition of Knobsticks, the journal of IWA North Staffordshire and South Cheshire Branch.  Photos by Harry Arnold © Waterway Images]

Chris was presented with the Association’s prestigious Richard Bird Medal in 2014, when IWA’s Annual General Meeting took place in Leek as the branch celebrated the 40th Anniversary of the Caldon Canal reopening.  The citation for Chris reflected the enthusiastic and skilled entrepreneur and craftsman, volunteer and business-man.

Chris was the first Secretary of the Stoke-on-Trent Branch when it was formed in 1974.  Prior to then the area was part of the much larger North West Branch.  1974 saw the formation of several IWA branches following a rearrangement of IWA’s region structure.

In 1977, Chris became chairman of the Branch. That year was also the Bicentenary of the Trent and Mersey Canal and Chris was very involved as Joint Celebration Director of the very successful commemorative event organised by the Trent & Mersey Canal Society in co-operation with Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Limited at Barlaston.  His IWA message in the event brochure notes how Stoke District Council had begun to recognise the importance of waterways, signing an agreement with the British Waterways Board to open the towpaths as a public right of way.  Chris went on to lead a series of projects improving the waterways area around Stoke-on-Trent.

[The photo, left, taken in 2004, shows Chris as Auctioneer, at the Branch annual dinner celebrating the 30th Anniversary of its formation in 1974.]

Born on 29 July 1938, Christopher John Skelhorne was a citizen of Stoke and family man through and through. When he married Sylvia in 1962 their home became Trentham, beside the Trent and Mersey Canal.  Chris had started in the jewellery trade in 1954 with well-known and respected family jewellers Henry Pidduck and Sons of Hanley.  In 1982, C J Skelhorne Jewellers began, moving in 1984 to their elegant family shop at 14 Piccadilly Arcade, Hanley, where they continue to provide the great craftsman-ship and customer service that Chris instilled from the heart.  His care is evident from the stories of many customers and friends who trusted him and from the different organisations he worked with; indeed, for many years he handled the complicated engraving and production of IWA’s National and Festival Awards, and provided professional valuations for insurance purposes, all at a very advantageous price to the Association.

Over many years, Chris committed a tremendous amount in time, skills and effort to IWA.  Longstanding branch members will always remember him as their President – supporting, celebrating and especially as ‘Auctioneer Extraordinaire’ at Branch annual dinners, outrageously raising funds selling anything from extra-special eggs to elegant watches.  Chris is survived by Sylvia and daughters Caroline and Sarah who continue the Skelhorne Jewellers business.

[The photo, right, shows Chris Skelhorne on a restoration project (thought to be the Montgomery Canal) in the 1970s.  The photo below shows Chris on receiving his Richard Bird Medal in 2014]

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