Comments made by a clergyman made headlines across Britain and caused a huge backlash, 25-years ago this month. Back in June 1999, the well-heeled residents of Wilmslow were branded as heathens in a blistering attack by Reverend David Leaver.
It was reported in the Manchester Evening News on June 9, 1999, that the outgoing curate said that the locals' love of wealth and job titles left them "far removed from any spiritual values, let alone Christian worship". The town's high street is populated by designer boutiques and fine restaurants and bistros - and there's even an Aston Martin dealership, which says a lot. Part of Cheshire's 'Golden Triangle' - a cluster of prosperous areas along with Alderley Edge and Prestbury - it's a popular area with footballers and TV personalities.
While shop manager Stephanie Barry, 24, said not all 20-somethings conform to the Hooray Henry stereotype. "I don't drive a flash car and I don't have a big house," she said. "In fact I'm skint."The following day, M.E.N journalists took to the streets of Wilmslow. Under the headline 'Wilmslow - Village of the damned', the published story on their findings stated: "It was business as usual in 'pagan' Wilmslow today.
"There is an element of wealth and we have benefited from selling donated things like Armani suits and jeans," she said. "but there are so many caring, humble people here."Teenagers and 20-somethings also said they had been offended by Mr Leaver's outburst. Nichola Downing, 18, who lives in Wilmslow and drives a Ford Fiesta, said: "There are a lot of shallow people but we're not all like that.