My earliest memories 5-10 yrs

One of my first memories was starting my 1st week in primary school at the age of 5 yrs

The 1st-year teacher was not there and the reason given was that she had lost her voice

we were asked to look for it on our way home  this remained with me for a long time as I

puzzled over what it was we were looking for. The other vivid memories were the poor

Standard of the school meals which were cooked elsewhere and delivered to the

school every day in metal containers

I used to run home at lunchtime, my Grandmothers cooking was much more appealing

on those cold wintery days, her rice pudding was a particular luxury cooked in the oven

next to the coal fire.

The school was a Church of England school with special links to the local Church the vicar

spent a lot of time with the children. My 2 elder brothers had been educated at the same

school with the same teachers ,there was a 7yr gap so we didn't overlap.

My eldest brother was the head chorister at the church I never made it to that grade but did

spend about 4yrs in the choir,we used to get 4 pence attendance money which helped as

well as a trip to Southport once a year.

St Mathew's Church, Stretton.

I remember we had to use a ration book to buy the weekly essentials,which were delivered

from the local village store,which was conveniently placed next to the school we could buy

broken biscuits from there for 1penny.

I always remember that period for it's cold winters, I remember going to bed with a hot

water bottle and waking up in the morning with the windows frozen solid on the inside 

with so much ice you couldn't see through them.

Coal was the main source of heating fuel and we had the same delivery man for as long as I

could remember we had 2 open fireplaces but only one was used,this had the oven next to

it where most of the baking was done. The other one was in what was referred to as the best

room,the door remained closed to this room and was opened only on special occasions.

I remember certain traditions that applied then Sunday was always a special day in the the

week then and was always referred to as the day of rest no shops were open then,and  the

local church was well attended,even the meals we ate were special on Sunday nearly always

a roast meal was served, which was referred to as the Sunday roast and for afternoon 

tea we would always have fruit on the table.

My Grandmother was a  very generous person not only to her Grandchildren she had a

kind way with everyone,I remember the postman would call in and have a hot drink and

no matter who it was she would alway's insist on using the best china and a white table

cloth,she had had a difficult life having lost her husband at the age of 29yrs he died from

anthrax and was one of the 1st people in Warrington to die of the disease, in those days

 there was no social welfare and she had to go out to work to support her two

children,she worked at the hospital and was the main assistant to the Matron  

the Matron was the driving force in the hospital then.

later in life she sold her house and moved in with Mother 

Football was the main sport we would play in school it was always Hatton v Stretton

the playground was on a slope and the surface was very rough but it didn't stop our

enthusiasm for the game.the girls playground was different and they would play 

 rounders,I think !

Birthday's and Christmas were always celebrated in a traditional way with presents

which could only be opened on the day,these were always for children'The salvation 

army used to come to the avenue every year with a melody of Christmas

carols,there were also small groups mainly school children who used to sing 2/3 carols

and would receive a contribution from the homeowner.they would go out every night

about a week before Christmas and at the end would divide their proceeds equally.

A fair used to visit the village once a year for the village fete we used to compete in 

various events and the winners would receive money prizes and then you could spend 

 it later on the rides on the fair the fair would stay for 2nights before moving on to the 

next village .

 There was an American camp within walking distance,we used to collect a bunch of

bluebells and take them to the camp,and we would always come away with Hershey bars

and juicy fruit chewing gum,it was not a happy day when they dissolved the camp soon

after the end of the war.

The Winter of 1946/47 was particularly cold with heavy snowfalls blocking roads and

railways the power stations found it difficult to get regular supplies of coal and power

failures ensued domestic power had to be restricted to 19hours each day

Army troops clearing railway sidings

My parents went to Canada during the depression of the 1930's on  there return to the UK

they bought a new build house in the countryside,it looked out onto open fields,I remember

walking these fields on many occasions,but once in particular, I came across a Badger now

these were always depicted as a friendly character in the Beano Billy the Badger so I tried to

 catch him to take him home ,fortunately I didn't.

Our house was called 'Adanac' which is Canada spelled backward.,

My Father served in the RAF during the war and never returned home after the war he had

a relationship with another woman who was also serving in the WRAF it created a lot of 

friction which I wasn't aware of at the time,my elder brother told me about this later he had

to witness many of the arguments.

I remember overhearing a conversation my mother was having with my brother Ed  he was

was going to meet his father as he wanted to buy him some tools,he was leaving school and 

was taking an apprenticeship as a joiner.

I remember wondering when I would meet my father I must have thought we all had a 

different father.these things were never discussed then.

Mother was quite strict with us growing up having two brothers and no father figure to
discipline us she felt she had to be firm with us,she always had a leather belt hanging on 
the back door and when she went to get that you ran ,she was the only person I feared 
I remember we had a drop down light switch over the bed and one time was playing
with  it was a two part switch and before I knew it I had divided it and got
 an almighty shock from the electric current I managed to assemble the switch and know
one ever knew about that

I am quite amused now when I see parents going to school  with little Jimmy who had
got into trouble with the teacher,In my case, if I got into trouble with the teacher mother
would be the last one to find out.

We were always taught to be very respectful to others especially our elders if a woman
walked into a room we would have to stand  and alway's touch our cap when passing
a woman on the street,and surrendering your seat on public transport to elders and
women .

Mother was a very proud person and would get great pleasure from hearing someone
else praise her boy's on their behavior our eldest brother Reg was better behaved
than Ed and me and was alway's mother's favorite.

As I grew older I used to spend more time going to our local farm and helping out later
it became paid work,every year after the Christmas celebrations were over the farm
would have a visit from the thrashing machine,I used to enjoy this as this was a chance
to earn some extra cash,my job was the chaff carrier

I later got a paper delivery round,in the area that I lived,I used to do this before
going to school,in all weathers winter and summer I was paid 12/6 twelve and
sixpence a week and with the money I earned from the farm I was earning
32/6 thirty-two shillings and 6 pence and during the 6-week summer school
holiday I could earn  £ 30 helping with the potato harvest and  cereal harvest.
The full-time adult wage then would not be more than £ 100 per year.

In the decade following the 2nd world war, more than 70% were employed in
manual labor and were only entitled to 1 weeks paid holiday.

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The farm where I spent all my spare time was also on my paper round so I used to
 get the chance to look at the Farmers Weekly and the Farmer and Stock Breeder
before delivering them even though the Farmer used to save them for me when he
had read them,the Farmer and Stock Breeder finished printing a long time ago
but the F/W is still going strong today.