CANADIAN relatives of a Warrington man whose 1886 diary sparked a research project has met the team behind it.

Graham Charnock and his wife Debbie, who live in London, Ontario, visited the display in homage to his great grandfather William Charnock in Warrington Library.

William’s diary gives an insight into life in Warrington more than 130 years ago through the eyes of a Latchford chemical factory employee who was also a talented musician.

And Graham, who was joined by his sister Pat Brennan and second cousin Russ Charnock, wanted to thank the U3A transcription group for helping them to learn more about their ancestry.

“We didn’t know anything about William growing up except his name and that he was our great grandfather,” they said.

“When we were contacted by the group who had been researching him and his life, we were over the moon and eager to know more.

“It has been really good to learn more about William as a man and more about our ancestry.”

Graham, who has lived in Canada permanently since 1974 and on and off since 1959, is visiting family in the area as he celebrates his 40th wedding anniversary.

He has also travelled to Malta during his time in Europe to recreate some pictures he has of his father, Arthur Charnock, who served on the island during the Second World War.

“As a family, we had already done some digging about our ancestry through online websites, but it has been great to be in contact with the group over here,” Graham said.

“We didn’t know anything about the diary project until late on, but it has been great to see just how much they have been able to find out.

“Recreating the pictures of my father in Malta made my hair stand on end, and being able to hold the diary and touch the pages my great grandfather did has had the same effect”

Eileen Bennicke and Margaret Fellows, who both worked on the diary project from the beginning, say they are thrilled with they way it has unfolded and what they have been able to find out.

“It’s just been brilliant to meet some more relatives of William as each piece the jigsaw falls into place,” they both added.

“The display will be coming down in three weeks’ time, so it was great that some of his relatives, especially those from oversees, have had the chance to see it.

“It’s been very exciting to help a family learn more about their ancestry, so we have achieved everything we wanted to and more.”