X "BY-GONE DAYS"(Memories of Graham and Barbara's `Younger Days')Graham and I thought it would be a good idea to`put our heads together' and make a note, onpaper, of our joint memories of our childhood aswe had quite a "chequered" life, moving aroundCheshire with Dad in the Police Force. We hadquite a number of laughs in the process of doingthis, remembering different things (a lot ofwhich, you will appreciate, cannot be put onpaper!) I am sure there will be plenty ofanecdotes we have forgotten, but at least we hopethat our future generations will enjoy readingwhat it was like during the "War Years" (andafterwards). We hope it does not get too boring,but once we started we could not stop!Dad was born in Nerquis, just outside Mold and Mumin Lead Mills, also just on the borders of Moldtown. Dad had two brothers, Uncle Syd (who diedaged 32 after never recovering completely from abrain tumour - and having only been married 12months), and Uncle John. Dad was the eldest of theboys. Mum also had two brothers, Uncle Walter andUncle Ron.Dad's first profession was as a lorry driver,working for one of the local companies in Mold.The lorry was steam and chain driven, carryingbricks from Altami Brickworks. There was no suchthing then as having an HGV licence. Mum used towork in Courtaulds factory at Shotton, doing what,I am not too sure. Before they were married Dadapplied to join Cheshire Police Force, and wasaccepted. His first posting was to Crewe. He spenta short time there on his own until they decidedto get married. Firstly, Dad had to apply to theChief Constable for special permission to getmarried, this was granted and Dad sent Mum atelegraph (copy of which you will see in thisbook), stating that permission had been granted.They were married in Mold Church, situated at thetop of town and which was known as "the topChurch". Once married Mum had to give up work, asPolicemen's wives were not allowed to work inthose days. Mum joined Dad in Crewe in 1935.Mum returned to Mold for the birth of Graham (hewas born in a little two up and two down cottagein Gwenamynydd - we think it was the midwife'shome), in September 1936. The tale goes thateveryone (very politely) said, when born, helooked like a scrawny rabbit! Mum then returned toCrewe where the three of them lived in a terracedhouse in Haslington Road, overlooking Crewe NorthLocomotive Sheds. Graham remembers Dad wearing ahigh (to the neck) buttoned up uniform with a verytall police hat, together with a leather belt,which had a Cheshire County Police buckle. Whilstliving in Crewe Dad went on the Advanced DrivingCourse and passed as a Driving Instructor. Wherewas his patience when he started to teach Grahamand I to drive in later years!!From Crewe they moved to Heswall, where I was bornin January 1939, in Glendenning Road. The Warcommenced in September of that year. Graham nor Ihave any recollections of time spent in Heswall.Dad was then transferred to Bromborough in 1941where we lived in the end house at the PoliceStation (the houses were all in a squaresurrounding the Police Station, all occupied byPolice families). Mum and Dad made good friendswith the Harvey family. We came to know them as"Aunty Hilda" and "Uncle Cyril". They had threechildren, Norman, who was around Graham's age andthe twins, Pam and Kay who were nearer my age. Wespent all our time playing together. We all neverlost touch during the years. "Uncle Cyril" died inhis late 50's of heart problems and "Aunty Hilda"is still living, still in New Ferry where theymoved to retire after the Police, and is 87.During our time spent at Bromborough PoliceStation, Birkenhead was badly blitzed and peoplewere evacuated. One day the air-raid siren gavenotice for us to all take cover. Whilst in theair-raid shelter a bomb dropped in the middle ofthe police station courtyard. It blew all thewindows and doors out of the houses which facedonto Chester Road. Graham remembers that near toour house the ack-ack guns were housed. We alwayshad to have black-out curtains at the windows sothat, once it was dark and the lights had to beput on, no light whatsoever could be seen fromoutside.One little anecdote which we heard, was that oneday Hilda and Mum were out shopping in BromboroughVillage. Dad was in the patrol car with Cyril andsaw them. He had a loudhailer on top of the carand it came over "will those two ladies who arejay-walking please report to this car". You canimagine the shock it gave them and they often toldus about it. We also had a big boxer dog calledRex. Graham could put his head in the dog's mouth,it was so big, and he was the only one who couldpull it around and the dog never got angry. Ibelieve he was also very protective of Graham andused to let no strangers near him.In 1944 we moved to Snelson, near Chelford, whereboth Graham and I attended Lower Peover PrimarySchool. This was a lot smaller house than we hadbeen used to, down a little lane. It was in a rowof houses overlooking lots of fields. Verypicturesque but isolated. We had an outside toilet(varnished wooden double seats!) with two bucketsunderneath (no sanitation in those days!). Dad hadto empty the buckets every day by digging a hugehole at the bottom of the garden. Behind thetoilet door was a big nail, which housed ripped upnewspapers - no such thing as toilet paper inthose days! There must have been some sore bottomsI am sure! It certainly wasn't conducive tospending a lot of time in there.We all had coal fires then and Dad used to make apath with the cinders, which ran down the garden,and every morning he would be out there smoothingthis path out with all the lumps and bumps ofcinders!Graham used to walk to school with his friends butMum took me on the back of her bike. She had aseat fitted. One day going to school, I waswaiving my legs around and one leg got caught inthe spokes of the wheel, down Mum and I came and Istill have a scar on my ankle to show for it!Needless to say we walked to school after that. Iused to play with a little girl from the "Clarke"family. We spent many hours doing each other'shair by using nails and other garden implements -no wonder I had to have my hair washed so often!There was no shampoo as such then; we used to usea bar of soap, called "green soft soap". One day,whilst we were playing Graham and his friends cameup to us and Graham promptly put a live squirmingfrog down the back of my jumper and held it there!To this day I am no lover of frogs!In his spare time Graham worked on a local farm,taking his "bagging" every day. We all used toplay on a car scrap yard at the bottom of the lanewhere one day we were all playing in an old car. Idecided to get out and as I did so Graham(accidentally I hope!) shut the car door on myfingers and unfortunately took the nail off mythird finger - as you can imagine, bloodeverywhere, and the nail bed was so badly damagedthat I now have a `double nail' on that finger.There was no mention of going to hospital then,Dad just bandaged it up and we both got a tellingoff for going there in the first place!One evening we were all standing at the front gatetalking to neighbours, when we heard a low humcoming overhead. Dad promptly made us go backindoors, saying there were "doodle-bugs" overhead,in other words, bombs. Everyone was asked to takein evacuees due to the bombing of Liverpool. All Iremember is Dad going to the station to collect afew children and they all had little brownsuitcases! I think three or four stayed with usfor quite a long while until it was safe toreturn.One of our memorable recollections is the day Dadcame home with a little tiny puppy in his pocket!A black and white Cocker Spaniel. We named herJudy, and she lived until she was 15. We had manyhours of happiness with her.Whilst at Snelson, Graham developed a very badwinter cough - which every winter returned. Mumwas advised to give him goat's milk and, as one ofthe farmers at the top of the road had a goat,Graham was provided for. I don't know whether itcured the cough but he certainly enjoyed the milk!I remember Mum and Dad taking us both for newshoes to Macclesfield. We had to travel on thebus, as Dad had no car then - exciting adventure!Dad insisted that I had sturdy brown lace-up shoessuitable for all weathers, and I had my heart seton a pair of slip-on shoes! What a disappointment.I did my best to scuff these to get a new pair,but no luck!The Americans landed at Knutsford and both of usremember them coming to Snelson and giving all thechildren chewing gum (we had never seen itbefore!). One piece lasted us days! What a treat.Both Graham and I were enrolled for piano lessonsat a house down the road. Neither of us werereally interested (Mum being an accomplishedpianist) - all we wanted to do was to play outwith our friends. (We were again enrolled forlessons when we moved to Gawsworth - Grahamdropped out first - he must have been morepersuasive - and I later). Our biggest regret isnot continuing after going such a number of years,as I can now only play with my right hand andGraham not at all!In 1945 Dad was transferred to Gawsworth, nearMacclesfield, where we lived in Gawsworth PoliceStation - a huge rambling building set in its owngrounds. It must have had over an acre of garden.Both Graham and I remember more about this placethan anywhere else we lived. The Church, withlakes around it, was the main feature ofGawsworth, but the Police Station came next. Wewill give you the lay-out of the Police Stationlater.Arrangements were made for Graham and I to go toschool in Macclesfield, me to Athey Street Primaryand Graham to Park Royal. We caught the bus nearto the Police Station but had a long walk downBond Street to get to school. On the way there wasa little sweet shop where we all congregated andbought pink spearmint chews (costing a pennyeach!). Graham remembers them being 1" x 5" insize - he must have bought so many! One day Ispent my bus fare (threepence - or thrupence as wecalled it). I got to the bus stop going home thatnight with no money and pleaded with a lady (who Ithought looked about 70, and was probably nearerto 30) to lend me the bus fare. I received a biglecture and she lent me the money on theunderstanding I was at the bus stop the followingnight 10 minutes early, to return the money. Inever spent my bus far again! I then went to ParkRoyal School where I made good friends with DianaBarker, at whose house I spent many weekends (itseemed such a big posh house on the outskirts ofMacclesfield). We were totally committed to eachother and wouldn't let anyone else into "ourgang". We kept in touch for many years.We remember getting off the bus by the PoliceStation and seeing Mum, on hands and knees,tending to pansies, which she had planted roundthe flagpole in the front garden. Dad had the jobof `flying the flag' whenever something major hadhappened. Mum also planted polyanthus and primulasaround the side borders. It was a huge garden withthree lawns and borders. Dad did the heavy diggingbut it was left to Mum to plant everything else.She spent many hours of her knees weeding thishuge expanse.We had a side gate which led round to the backdoor on one side; the path on the other side wentpast the garage, past a huge shed and past two dogkennels - where Graham took great delight inshutting me in - one time shutting the gate on mythumb and breaking it! In fact, I think I was shutin these kennels more often than we had dogs inthem! Graham was always looking for mischief (andfound it!).We had a big back lawn, which had a rhododendronhedge running all along it, beyond which there wasa huge garden where Dad used to grown vegetables.Dad also kept chickens - 12 we believe. One ofthem I christened Doris and it became my pet. Dadfed these chickens on a `home-grown' mixture offood - which smelt awful, but we always had greatdouble-yoked eggs.At the bottom of the garden was a big air-raidshelter where we all used to play until Dad had iteventually closed, as the roof was insecure. Wealso had our own sewage tank at the bottom of thegarden, which Dad frequently had to "sort out". Wewon't elaborate on this!Before we take you inside the Police Station, wemust mention our visitor who used to walk in thefields around the Police Station (often for anhour at a time). His name was Edgar, he was alittle unusual but harmless. We had to lock thedoors when he was around as he would walk in, sitdown, and wait for a cup of tea! Mum and Dad werequite used to him, but we were ratherapprehensive, as he was very tall and dark, andscowled a lot.Just outside the back door was a covered area withdoors leading off. One was the washing room (nowknown as the utility room). It housed a brick washboiler, a dolly tub, mangle and other bits andpieces. Mum spent every Monday morning (andprobably afternoon) doing the washing in there. Wecan see her now using the dolly, twirling all theclothes round and round to get them clean. Wealways knew that on a Monday, it was a chips andegg day! There was an outside toilet and acoalhouse where, in the evening, you could hearcrickets making their own peculiar noise.The kitchen was huge! It had a red tiled floor,which Mum always seemed to be washing (on herhands and knees!). There was a big wooden table inthe centre where we used to sit and eat our meals.We all used to have to sit down together roundthis table as a family; there was no "having iton. your knees". Off the kitchen was a walk-inlarder with a stone slab where butter, cheese etcwere kept. No fridges in those days! The milk washoused in a cold bucket of water. Hanging up inthe larder Dad always had a side of bacon (whichhe sliced every morning to go with his eggs forbreakfast). He also always had belly pork hanging.Apparently the longer it was hung the better ittasted! All these foods (and many more besides,i.e. home made butter) were courtesy of the localfarmers. Another door off the kitchen was for ouroutside coats.Going from the kitchen we'll take you into thedining room, which was another big room. It had apolished table upon which sat the big black phone!This was connected to the Police Station Officeand Dad could pick up calls up there instead oftrudging through to the Office. We had a bigsideboard in this room, and cosy chairs where weused to sit at night in front of the fire andeither read or listen to the wireless (now knownas the radio!). Many a happy hour was spent withGraham playing with his trains, me playing with mydolls and Mum and Dad reading (Dad always readwestern books). We always had the `wireless' on inthe background.The next room was known as the Sitting Room whichhoused a three piece suite and a piano (thedreaded piano!) where, once again, Graham and Ihad to have one hour each night practising. Thereused to be a metronome sat on the top of the pianoto enable us to keep the correct timing - veryseldom we did! I can never recall using thissitting room, except for piano lessons. We thinkit was a very cold room, as the fire was seldomlit, only maybe at Christmas?We will now take you upstairs, as we will come tothe Police Station itself later. We had two verybig corridors upstairs which ran the length of thehouse and police station. The first corridor hadMum and Dad's bedroom at the very end. Theirbedroom had a walk-in cupboard, which was similarto our modern box room; this housed all theChristmas decorations, suitcases and other bitsand pieces. Another room off the bedroom was awalk-in wardrobe. As you will realise, this was avery big bedroom. Graham's bedroom was also offthis corridor. On this particular corridor werewindows which overlooked the prisoners exerciseyard (not that either Graham or I can recallseeing many in there - maybe the odd drink). Youcould climb through the windows on this landingonto a flat room, where Graham and our cousinStuart used to shoot crows with an air rifle -permission being granted from Dad as many peopleshot crows in those days (we have never reallyfound out the reason for this).On the other corridor was my bedroom and furtheralong the corridor was a separate airing cupboard,a separate toilet and a big bathroom (which wasalways cold - especially when we had to take abath!). No central heating in those days!It was always very eerie upstairs - noises seemedto come from everywhere. I think we all convincedourselves it was haunted - and we still think itwas! Uncle John, Aunty Ethel, Stuart and GrannyGray once came to stay and Uncle John next dayasked Dad who was walking the corridors during thenight - "no one" was the reply. Another time weall heard drawers being opened; we thought it wasin Mum and Dad's room so we all went to look -both were sound asleep! It was very weird. We allused to stay downstairs as long as possible!Coming downstairs again, the door to the right ledto the Police Station itself. There were a coupleof big rooms which had beautifully polished floorsand counters where Dad used to see anyone who camein and where he did all his paperwork. Off thiswere the cells where Graham spent a great deal oftime playing with his friends (and, needless tosay, shutting me in them when he had a chance!).We both remember food rationing when Mum hadrationing books for us all. That meant we wereonly allowed so much of anything but we were verylucky with our farmer friends. One Christmas whenrationing was on Dad managed to get (black market)a dozen blocks of chocolate for both Graham and I.What a treat! We had strict instructions to makeit last - probably it did - for a couple of days!There was very little money to spare but we atewell, courtesy of Dad's farmer friends and, ofcourse, our chickens! We rarely went short ofanything.In 1947 we experienced the heaviest snowfall everwith over 12-ft high snowdrifts. Graham and Dadcould walk on top of the snow, which was up to thetelegraph poles. We have never seen such a sightsince. Dad and the neighbours had to dig their wayout of the house. Dad still had to go on duty, buton foot, and came across an American Army convoy,which had got stuck in a snowdrift, and,unfortunately, he found all the men inside dead.There were a lot of tragedies during that time.When young both Graham and I went to stay in LeadMills for our holidays with Granny Gray who livedin a small row of terraced two bedroom cottages. Iused to go for six weeks at a time, but Grahamwould rather stay at home with his friends.Granny's cottage was always very clean and tidy.The front door opened directly into the sittingroom where she had a black leather chaise loungeunder the window; a fireplace which had to beblack-leaded every day to keep its shine and abrass fender around the fireplace - inside ofwhich was a brass seat which we all used to fightto sit on! There was a big black sideboard goingthe length of one wall, which had big ornaments ateach end - Graham and I had strict instructionsnot to touch them! All the furniture in those daysseemed to be black.Granny did most of her cooking in the fireplaceoven, so always had the fire stoked half way upthe chimney. There was no hot water so watereither had to be boiled on the stove or on thetiny gas stove in the kitchen. We used to have abig tin bath brought in front of the fire to haveour weekly baths! - this was filled by kettleafter kettle of water. Granny did all her ownsewing, having previously been a seamstress, byusing a big hand/foot treadle machine. All hersewing was beautiful. She had a tiny kitchen withstairs leading off to go upstairs, where therewere two bedrooms (a big front bedroom, which onlyhoused guests,) and the back bedroom, which wasGranny's. The front bedroom had a big fireplace init but we never saw it lit. What we do remember isGranny always having fresh white linen sheets onthe bed, beautifully ironed, and a stone hot waterbottle at the bottom to put our feet on! All theironing was done with a flat iron - Granny had two- whilst one was being used the other was on thefire heating up. There was no such thing asironing boards then; everyone used the big diningroom table, which was covered with lots of heavycloths to stop the heat going through.The toilet was outside across the yard (with apull flush chain - modern technology!). There wasa row of toilets, one for each house, with theirindividual number on the door.Granny's sister, Aunty Nellie, used to walk upfrom where she lived (about two miles) to collectthe daily paper - she was too mean to buy one! Shewould come for an hour, have her supper, whichconsisted of a couple of very thinly sliced piecesof bread (which Granny always cut paper thin andwe have never seen bread cut so thin since), anice cup of tea and then would walk back homeagain. This she did every single night for years,through all bad weathers.Graham and I spent many an hour playing in thefields at Lead Mills, where there was a streamrunning through the fields - each in our own"gangs".I regress - I will continue as before. Mum andDad, Graham and I used to attend Gawsworth Churchevery Sunday evening where Graham started as anAlta Boy and then was promoted to "High AltaServer" carrying the Cross into Church in front ofthe Vicar and Choir (he did this every Sundaymorning and evening). He looked very angelic inhis robes! Mum and Dad were so proud of him. Bothof us went to Confirmation Lessons and both wereconfirmed into this Church by the Bishop ofChester, which was a very prestigious event withGraham in a white shirt, black trousers and myselfin a white dress and veil.Graham used to `escort' two sisters home on footfrom Church every Sunday evening after the service- they lived in Fools Nook (about 3 miles away),and then he had to do the return journey! It musthave been love for one of them!We used to spend a lot of time during the wintermonths skating on the lakes, which surrounded theChurch. Graham was more daring than I was - Ithink I kept to the sides as I could not skate,and still can't!. The ice was so thick there wasno danger of it cracking. It was a beautiful sightto see all the children and often parents skatingback and to and all the trees covered in snow. Wedid this year after year.We remember clearly when Graham went on the backof a BSA bike with his friend and, on reaching thecrossroads, they had to stop. Graham promptly puthis feet on the floor. Unfortunately the bike thenstarted off again, leaving Graham to fall to thefloor - right in the middle of the crossroads!Luckily there was no other traffic around. He hada few bruises after that.Whilst at Gawsworth, Graham got an interest injoinery and was taught a great deal by Mr Finlay,a local joiner. He used to go into the loft, viathe trapdoor, to try his hand at joinery and oneday whilst there chiselling away at some wood(probably floorboards!) he put the chisel throughhis ankle. It was a very nasty accident and hestill has the scar to remind him.Dad had his first Police car whilst at Gawsworth -and was he proud of it! It was a black MorrisMinor. It proved to be very handy bringing homeall the black market food (better than having tofasten it to the back of his bike!).We recall Dad being called out to an accidentwhere an aircraft had crashed in the hills at WildBoor Clough and, whilst there, met the owner of agarage from Bosley Cross Roads. Dad and this ownerbegan a friendship, which lasted years, and hetaught Dad how to make small wooden stools (in alldifferent shapes). Why he made stools we don'tknow, but we still have one which, although alittle worse for wear comes in handy to stand onto clean windows!Before we continue, we must tell you about thetime Graham was suspended from Park Royal Schoolfor approx. two weeks. The class had been asked todo an essay on "School Meals". Graham couldn'tthink of anything good to write about them, all hecould think of was how horrible they were -especially the cabbage - and proceeded to put onpaper what he thought of the cabbage. Obviouslythe Teachers did not like what he had written(truthful as it was) and obviously they had neverhad to eat it! Graham was promptly suspended - aharsh letter was sent home to Mum and Dad (wholater found it very amusing) and Graham was givena firm telling off.Uncle John, Aunty Ethel and Stuart came to stayquite often and once, during their stay, decidedto take us children up to the Cat and Fiddle inhis car. This was during the cold, foggy and snowywinter. We arrived near the Cat and Fiddle indense fog. We could not see a hand in front of ourface. Stuart and I were huddled in one corner ofthe car - quite frightened but quiet - not Graham,he proceeded to start to cry, louder and louderand continued crying until eventually Uncle Johnmanaged to find his way down again. We have neverforgotten that (and I am sure Stuart will wellremember!).During our stay at Gawsworth Graham passed anexamination to start an apprenticeship as anElectrician with North Western Electricity Board.Only a few were accepted each year so he had donevery well. For six months he had to leave homeearly (6 am) to catch the bus into Macclesfieldand then the train to Romiley to where he attendedRomiley Apprentice Training School. He did thesame on the return journey.I Joined the Girl Guides, was the youngest in thegroup, and enjoyed going to camp and all thesinging around the campfire.Dad would never accept promotion - he muchpreferred to be "the bobby on the beat" and he wasexceedingly popular with the public. He rarelyever booked anyone - they all received a warningfirst and, if a youngster had done wrong, it was a`quick clip' across their ear and sent their way.He received many commendations - copies of whichare attached.When I was 13 and Graham 15 Mum was taken poorlyand had to go into Macclesfield Hospital for about8 months with her nerves. Dad was superb lookingafter us - we never once complained of havingmashed potatoes with a tin of stewing steak pouredover and rice pudding afterwards - every singlenight! When Granny Gray came to stay we had a morevaried diet!When Mum came out of hospital Dad requested atransfer as he felt Mum was too isolated, so in1951 we moved to 17 Waverley Avenue, StocktonHeath, near Warrington, into a three bedroompolice house. Dad was made "Officer in Charge" ofStockton Heath Police Station.I joined Broomfields Secondary Modern School tofinish my education. I then enrolled at Marsh'sCommercial College, which was then at the bottomof Bridge Foot. Mum paid £2.60 a month for me togo there. The owner was a Mr Evans (who we alldisliked). The typewriters had black covers overthem, one end fastened around your neck and theother to the top of the typewriter so you couldnot see the keys. We all became "touch typists".We worked hard (I think!) but also enjoyedourselves.One day when Mr Evans was out for a while, five ofus stood on the tables dancing, everyone clappingand singing, but unbeknown to us he had returned!The five of us were given letters to take home toour parents, stating that unless we showed morededication then we may as well be removed! - nosense of humour. Finishing there I went toCrosfields where I started in the typing pool -which I hated. Our Supervisor (Miss Clarke) wassat in an office with all glass windows,`overseeing' us and we had to put our hands upbefore we could go to the toilet. It was likebeing back in school.Graham remained in Macclesfield in `digs' tofinish his Apprenticeship. When finished he joinedus and was accepted for a job as ApprenticeElectrician with Manweb, which was then based atHowley Power Station. He was Apprentice to JohnnyWaller, and remained firm friends with him foryears afterwards. Many tales could be told of histime with Manweb, but we will pick just one out.It was when he was rewiring someone's farmhouseand had the job of cutting a `chase' down the wallof an upstairs bedroom. Johnny had amuch-treasured penknife (no one else could touchit). Graham got his hands on it and plastered itinto the wall. Needless to say Graham had to jumpthrough the bedroom window with Johnny hard afterhim, where he promptly got a good hiding! He neverdid that again.In those days a van took all the materials to siteand the Electrician and his Apprentice had to maketheir own way there, namely on bike. It was theApprentice's job of ensuring that he had a carrieron the back of his bike in which to house all theElectrician's tools. Graham and Johnny had, atthat time, the responsibility of re-wiring all thefarmers houses around Warrington, as all they hadwas calor gas (paraffin lamps).We had a corgi dog at this time called "Shandy"who was very bad tempered. If anything was putdown on the floor woe betide you if you went topick it up! - Shandy would have your hand off. Hewould only listen to Dad (and of course this dogcould do no wrong - we were always to blame fortormenting her!). Sad to say I don't think any ofus were too upset when Shandy died.Very few people had televisions in those days andcertainly no one in Waverley Avenue. Mum and Dadwere friendly with Mr and Mrs Lehrle (Graham alsopalled around with their son Derek), and they haddecided to buy a television! We all waited withbaited breath to be invited to see this. We wereinvited to watch the Queens Coronation - which,even though in black and white, was spectacular.This television had a screen approx 9" in size,which had a huge magnifying glass over the front -which made it look about 15" wide. Were weimpressed! Every Saturday afterwards we used tocongregate at the Lehrles (other neighbours also),to watch the Quatermass Experiment.Whilst at Stockton Heath Mum and Dad got veryfriendly with the landlord and his wife who ranthe London Bridge Pub. This Pub was owned by them,not tenanted from the Brewery at that time.Tragically the landlord hung himself in thecellar, no one knew why. His wife asked Dad wouldhe take over as landlord of the pub. Reluctantly,after a lot of soul searching Dad had to say no asMum could not envisage herself (as little as shewas!) standing behind the bar serving pints! Ithink Dad was quite disappointed, but it wasprobably for the best, as Dad would have done moretalking than serving!!Again, we were all Churchgoers, attending St.Thomas' Church in Stockton Heath. Graham and Derekused to go on their own every Sunday evening (tooold to go with us now). One Sunday evening Grahamhad a bag of aniseed balls which, unfortunatelyfor us all, he dropped all over the floor - justas the Vicar started his Sermon. He was none toopopular with people when they left their seats,slipping and sliding on them!Mum and Dad were very friendly with the localButcher and his wife in the village - Alf andNellie Ward. When Mum and Dad moved away fromStockton Heath to New Ferry, they still remainedfriends and on Alf's day off from the shop theyall went out for the day, Alf and Nellietravelling over to collect Mum and Dad. Theyremained firm friends until Mum and Dad died. Alfopened a sweet shop next to the Church, where Mumused to help out when they were busy. (I think Ialso did once or twice, but probably ate more thanI sold!).At the bottom of the garden at Waverley Avenue wehad a huge shed (where my guinea pig, "Squeaky"was kept - it was so tame it ran free). Grahamstarted his model making in this shed with balsawood which Dad had managed to get which had fallenoff a ship in the canal, and which Dad dried out.Graham and Derek built a model spitfire plane inthe shed, which was radio controlled. Whilst inthe garden flying it, it hit next door's chimneystack and the whole lot came crashing to thefloor. Needless to say neither Graham nor Derekwere very popular with the neighbours after that.We both made many friends there, I had a goodfriend called Lydia Dalton who lived up theAvenue. We used to go dancing to the Parr Hall andBaths Hall every Saturday night, but always had toget the last bus home, which went at 11.00 pm.everyone came out of the dance halls at about10.55 pm and scattered quickly to catch theirbuses. The Baths Hall was the `in place' at thattime to go on a Saturday night as the big GalaPool was covered in flooring, which we all dancedon (a little bouncy I admit) but it must havehoused about 200 people. We used to sit up on theseats, which were all on different levels.One little anecdote, which Graham has remembered,is the time he was going on his new Raleigh bike(which Mum and Dad had saved for ages to buy him),along with Derek Lehrle and Bill Worthington, toWalton Gardens. Graham, not looking where he wasgoing, hit a car at the crossroads, catapultedover the bonnet, lost both shoes (one down OrchardStreet and the other disappearing down anotherroad). Fortunately he was not hurt butunfortunately someone went to the Police Stationto report this accident and, guess what, Dad wason duty at the time! He did not know it was Grahamuntil he went to the scene. Graham was instantlybanned from using his bike for six months and hadto walk back and to from home to Warrington everyday during that time - a hard lesson learnt!Graham was deferred from National Service until hefinished his Apprenticeship at 21, when he wasenlisted into the Royal Air Force in the MilitaryPolice in the Security Bomber Command. He signedon for 3 years (as the RAF did not do a 2-yearenlistment at that time) and then, to Dad'shorror, he signed on for another three years, butI think came out before the completion of thelatter three years.After living in Stockton Heath for a number ofyears, Mum and Dad decided that it was time theybought a house for security, as all previoushouses had been rented from the Police. They heardfrom Cyril Harvey that there was a nicethree-bedroom house going quite reasonable in BetaClose, New Ferry. Cyril and Hilda lived quite nearso after viewing the house they decided to move.Dad was transferred to New Ferry Police Stationwhere he was again "Officer in Charge". Itransferred from Crosfields to Van den Bergh &Jurgens and worked for the Personnel Manager there--quite a high job. I had met Brian Boyle fromCrosfields before moving, who had also beenconscripted into the Armed Forces for two years.After a few years I married Brian and transferredback to Warrington, working at Thames Board Millsand various other places. In 1967 1 had a daughter(Suzan Elaine), but unfortunately the marriagebroke down in 1970. I remarried in 1972 to JimHarding and went to live firstly in Woolston andthen Cinnamon Brow.Graham came out of the RAF and joined the PoliceForce in New Brighton, where he met Mary Whitefrom Wallasey. He married and settled in Eastham.They had two children (Jacqueline and Michael).After a few years Graham and Mary moved toWarrington where Graham initially worked for theBorough Council in the Street Lighting Section; heleft there after a few years and moved to othervarious place of employment. Graham and Mary'smarriage also broke down. Graham remarried in 1999to Vivienne Noon. They now live in LandseerAvenue, Warrington.Dad retired from the Police Force and both him andMum decided to go "back home" to Wales. Theybought a three-bedroom bungalow in Mynydd Isa. Dadapplied for, and was accepted, as a County CourtOfficer working as a Bailiff and spent many yearsenjoying this work. He must have enjoyed itimmensely, as he did not retire until 72! He wasnever told at 65 he had to finish - they must haveeither mislaid his birth certificate, or never sawit! - so he quietly continued.On Dad's retirement Mum bought Dad a blackLabrador. Graham and I along with the rest of thefamily collected this puppy from Arley Kennels (atiny bundle of fluff). We all spent ages trying tothink of a name for her until Jacqui came up with"Tara" and Tara she was called.Jim and I bought a caravan but, due to Jim takingup golf, we decided to pass it over to Mum and Dadwho would have more use of it. They spent manyweekends away with the Caravan Club (along withNorman and Pat, their good friends from dancing).Whenever Dad went missing, Mum always knew hewould be sat in the caravan (in the driveway!)reading his paper, along with Tara, and having anice quiet cup of coffee! They took up modernsequence dancing and spent a great deal of timedoing both caravanning and dancing. All the familyhad to make appointments to see them - they wereout such a lot!Dad died, quite suddenly at home, when he was 76.He had been off colour for a short while butnothing serious so it was a big shock to us all,especially Mum, when he passed away. Poor Tara wasinconsolable for a long time. She eventuallytransferred her affections to Mum who took her forlong walks. Unfortunately Tara died 3 or 4 yearsafter Dad so Mum was again bereft.Mum lived on her own until she died at 82. She hadkept exceptionally good health, doing all her owngardening, housework etc. (She even mowed her ownlawn until she was 80!).She enjoyed the company of Lil, her next doorneighbour and they became good friends. Uncle Ronand Aunty Eileen lived on 10 minutes walk away(having moved from Liverpool on Uncle Ron'sretirement) and Aunty Eileen walked to Mum'sbungalow every afternoon for a chat. I think UncleRon used to have a snooze when she was away! AuntyEthel and Uncle John, who lived approx 15 minutesaway on Wylfa Hill, also came to see Mum a coupleof afternoons a week. Mum had a short illnesswhilst on holiday down South with Aunty Eileen andUncle Ron. Jim and I brought her back toWarrington but unfortunately she died a few weekslater in hospital at Chester. We all found it veryhard to come to terms with losing Mum, as she hadbeen so well.I have a large paper tablecloth (too big to copyall of it to go in this book), which Mum and Dadwrote on every Christmas. Listed on thistablecloth is everyone who came to stay atChristmas (and we always had a houseful). Thewriting is now faded and the paper is now cracked,but it is wonderful to read all the names of ourpast generations (and also all our pets areincluded on this tablecloth!). If I am able, Iwill try and copy a couple of the `corners' foryou to read.(Both Graham and I hope you enjoyed reading thisas much as we enjoyed writing it - lots ofchildhood memories came crowding back; it wasgreat reminiscing about "our childhood" and lotsof `do you remember' etc. We have tried tocondense it as much as we could (we think!). Wejust hope it did not prove too boring to you!.Graham and Barbara ElwinDecember 2003