As a young boy he attended Sutton St. James’ C.E. Primary School and he went on to win a scholarship to the Royal College of Art in London.

In 1947 he moved from Manchester to a cottage called "Shorelands" on the estuary of the Afon Cefni on Anglesey, where he lived until his death in 1979.

In time the farm Charles lived on as a boy was sold and much of the land bought by Cheshire County Council, where Hollinhey Primary School was built and still stands.

Whilst Charles and his wife Winifred left their hometown and spent many happy years on Anglesey, many of their family members lived their lives close to where they spent their childhood.

After his death in 1979 his sister Dorothy, who lived close to Hollinhey Primary School, felt there should be a lasting memorial to her brother. 

Dorothy, along with Margaret Simpson and Jack Campey (Charles Tunnicliffe’s nephew) felt an annual art competition would be a long lasting memorial to Charles and his wife Winifred. 

Chris Knowlson the Headmaster at Hollinhey at the time was approached and the Charles and Winifred Tunnicliffe Memorial Art Competition was formed in 1982. 

It was decided that the competition should be a none profit making competition and any monies needed would be donated by the family. The initial money donated by the family was entrusted to the custodians (Dorothy, Margaret, Jack and Chris) of the Charles and Winifred Tunnicliffe Memorial Art Competition.

With great thanks to Charles and Winifred’s decedents, in particular the Campey and Wonnacott family, the art competition is still going strong and allows us, as a school to incorporate a local artist into the art curriculum and gives us many hours of pleasure throughout the school year. 

I would also like to add that Mr. Richard Campey and Mrs. Olive Llewellyn two of the present custodians are as committed now as the custodians of twenty six years ago to ensure the Charles and Winifred Tunnicliffe Memorial Art Competition remains as important as the day is was conceived. 

Hollinhey would like to thank all who are involved with the Charles and Winifred Tunnicliffe Memorial Art Competition and will endeavor to ensure the competition lasts another twenty five years.

Please see below past winners of the competition and competition rules.

TUNNICLIFFE WINNERS

1982 Nicola Mitchell

1983 Timothy Doggett

1984 Penelope Martlew

1985 Unknown

1986 Philip Cunningham

1987 James Beresford

1988 Hannah Birtwistle

1989 Shelley Scott

1990 Rebecca Thatcher

1991 Philippa Stead

1992 Bethan Sayer

1993 Oliver Barber

1994 Claire Hamilton

1995 Katharine Caesar

1996 Darren Jones Gee

1997 Hayley Wood

1998 David Cusick

1999 Sarah Barber

2000 Esther Burt

2001 Nicola Lewis

2002 Philip Waite

2003 William Holden

2004 Katie Shaw

2005 Rhea Millward-Thompson

2006 Kieran Hickey

2007 Alana Bibby