“I’ve lived in Chesterfield all my life and I’ve no need to reside wherever else. It is like a giant village the place lots of people.

Born 66 years in the past to Ronald and Marjorie Barker of their dwelling on St Augustines Avenue, Viv remembers a contented childhood along with her older brother Elvin.

She stated, “You performed with your folks on the road. At the moment, St Augustines Avenue had timber and lampposts and we used to play curvy on the opposite aspect of the street. We had a canine that has by no means been on a leash; Mother was screaming on the canine and irrespective of which yard the canine got here out of she knew that was the place we had been enjoying.

Viv attended Manor Faculty after which continued her research at Chesterfield Technical School the place she studied O and A ranges, shorthand and typing.

She honed her clerical expertise in quite a few jobs together with Secretary to the Chesterfield Fireplace Station Chief and an administrator place at Chesterfield Golf Membership.

Viv returned to varsity after elevating her youngsters, first to be taught phrase processing and later to pursue a administration course. She stated, “I studied for the diploma part-time and graduated at age 50.”

In her mid-fifties, she was appointed secretary to the mayor of Chesterfield. Viv stated, “While you work for First Citizen, you are feeling like you may have the very best job within the borough.

“The cellphone was ringing and it might be somebody wanting the mayor to open a retailer, attend a information assembly, or the Lord Lieutenant’s workplace saying there could be a royal go to.”

“I cherished the civic ceremonies, the mayor’s parade and the Remembrance Day parade. Those I loved probably the most had been the return parades for the regiments after we gave the Mercians and 9/12 Lancers freedom of the borough.

A spotlight of his work on the municipal workplace has included a reception for the Duke of Devonshire to commemorate his grandfather laying the muse stone for City Corridor. Viv stated: “One other spotlight was after we bought concerned in a challenge to get shops, taxis and pubs to place stickers of their home windows saying the navy was welcome.”

Viv and her husband Invoice joined the Chesterfield department of the Royal British Legion 13 years in the past, at a time when her son Andrew was serving in Afghanistan. Viv later grew to become a Poppy Enchantment organizer and her volunteer work was acknowledged with two county awards.

Dwelling in Hasland, Invoice and Viv have 4 youngsters and 4 grandchildren and are avid divers. Viv has performed netball for the Taptonians for a few years and now leads the workforce along with her good friend Janice Ballam.

When requested what she lacked in old-time Chesterfield, Viv stated, “I miss the marketplace for the best way it was. It was all the time crowded on Saturday afternoons. I bear in mind when my son David was a child you could not enter the market with a pram.

“I miss unbiased retailers. I cherished Bobby Cousins, a store that’s lengthy gone. Sneakers, purses and garments, I’ve all the time cherished them. White on Chatsworth Street is my favourite now.