My earliest memories are of Wigan Infirmary, a black nurse and a wooden rocking horse. I was two when I had mastoiditis, not a serious problem nowadays if treated early enough, but back then it was pretty serious. I was always told that I was lucky to survive the operation, which left me with no hearing problems, just a dip in the bone at the back of my right ear which I believe had been chipped away.
I suppose starting school was the next memory, something I was not looking forward to.
I was born in a little village called Crawford, just one street where everyone knew each other, the school only had two classrooms, one for infants and one for juniors. My brother who was eight years older than me had left junior school and after passing his eleven plus exam with flying colours was now at Up-Holland Grammar School.
Luckily enough my cousin Pat who was six months older than me lived in Crawford as well, and being a bit of a tom-boy she became my protector both at and away from school; in fact she was my best friend for quite a few years.
Crawford School
I was not impressed with school at all, there were only two teachers, Mrs. Webster who taught the infants, and Miss Ellison who taught the juniors. Both of them where real battle axes, I would not like to count the number of wooden rulers that had been broken over pupils hands by both of them, one thing I know it was really painful. But it enforced discipline, something that is sadly missing in this country at the moment.
I suppose teaching four different years in one class was a difficult task, and I really cannot remember how it was done as each year would be learning something different.
Just as important as school in those days was Sunday school, all the children in the village used to go without fail, Sunday morning was bath day then Sunday clothes and of to Sunday school. This is the only time my cousin Pat and I were apart, for we were C of E, and Pat's family were Methodist, one church was at one end of the village and the other at the other end.
Our Sunday clothes were bought for Easter, these lasted us for twelve months and then were used for another twelve months as after school clothes, extra clothes such as cardigans etc. were knitted by Aunties etc. which used to be given as Christmas and birthday presents.
Crawford C of E Church and Mission Hall
The mission hall in the photo was used for wedding receptions, bring and buy sales, and all the kid's favourite Christmas party, it was a real treat for most of us. There was also a Christmas pantomime, I am not sure but it could have been held on the same day; the highlight of the night being Bob Lathom's rendition of 'There's a little yellow idol to the north of Kathmandu', which always received rapturous applause.
Another treat provided by the Church was the yearly Sunday School trip to Blackpool, a day that both parents and children thoroughly enjoyed, and the only holiday that most of us got.
We also took part in two walking days; the parish of Up-Holland contained five or six areas that all had there own walking day, and the big walking day when all the areas took part together in one big walk.
Walking day in Up-Holland
To be continued.
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