Exhibition celebrating Pele in Lymm to take place from January 6

But the people of Lymm have a very special reason to mourn his passing. For two weeks in July 1966 the village was alive with excitement as the Brazil team, including Pelé, made Lymm their home for the World Cup.

These were not the days of remote, secure training camps. The team, who were staying at the Lymm Hotel and anearby houses, signed autographs, played with the children and even visited local people in their homes. The people of Lymm in return took the young team to their hearts.

There was an almost constant crowd outside the hotel, all hoping to catch a glimpse of the players or maybe even get a photograph. A lucky few can even claim to have joined a training session or had a kickabout with Pelé and the rest of the squad.

Lymm never forgot its South American visitors and in 2016 the Lymm Hotel and newly formed Lymm Heritage Centre combined to stage “Brazilymm 66” to mark the 50th anniversary of this momentous event in the village’s history.

It turned into a huge success attracting national media attention.

The special guest on the opening night of the exhibition was Warrington’s own Roger Hunt, a member of the England team who went on to win the World Cup that year. Just three years later the Lymm Hotel was pulled down to make way for a new development. Sadly in September 2021 Roger Hunt died and now the world has lost Pelé too.

A small temporary exhibition at Lymm Heritage Centre “When Pelé Came to Lymm” is a final opportunity for the people of Lymm to share memories and say farewell to their most famous guest. The exhibition features over a hundred photographs and reminiscences, a collection of 1966 World Cup memorabilia and a video compilation that tells the story of the visit from beginning to end.

It’s the chance to say a final, respectful farewell to Lymm’s most unforgettable guest. Lymm Heritage Centre re-opens, including the Pele exhibit, on Saturday, January 7 and is then open Thursday to Sunday 12pm to 4pm every week.