THE sad death of Mary Isherwood, who owned Delph Chippy with her husband Graham since 1972, has revealed a remarkable story.
Born in 1945 in Omagh in post war Northern Ireland, Mary was raised in Nazareth House Orphanage, Derry, where she developed a real talent and love of music, playing the violin and singing.
Aged 11, Mary was chosen as part of a select few when the elite Little Gaelic Singers toured the United States, where she appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show.
It was in that same show Elvis Presley made a second appearance, which was widely seen as the turning point in his career and setting him on his way to global superstardom.
In addition to her star-studded appearance, Mary played at Carnegie Hall.
At 15 she ‘hired’ a bicycle and absconded from the orphanage to head for Liverpool and then Manchester, where she met Graham at the Cafe Royal.
They married and a year later they bought the fish and chip shop in Delph, where they have remained ever since.
The couple became huge characters in the village and were admired and respected by the wider community.
They have two children, Luke and Grace, and four loving grandchildren, James, 11, William, 8, Hugo, 6, and Theo, one.
Mary’s funeral will be held on Friday, January 10 at 2pm at Holy Trinity, Dobcross.
Delph Chip Shop ! Home made meat pies, and Home made Cheese and onion pies” that was too big to fit on the chippy tray ! Delicious and well worth driving from St Marys Oldham to Delph Chippy ! I Remember Mary ! a lovely lady indeed ! and her family.
A lovely Lady , and part of a wonderful family in Delph. She will be dearly missed
Worked for mary and graham for over 10 yrs from the age of12.not just in the shop.id take grace and luke to blackpool alton towers walk the dog…..delph….saddleworth.were gonna miss the mighty mary xx