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When I was Young

Parts 21 to 28

The most wonderful part of being young is Christmas, Every year there was two large logs for our open fire..one for Christmas eve, and one for New year`s eve, It was a bit of a tradition. Dad was nearly always playing in the danceband some where, on most Christmas eves, although there were one or two exceptions.

Our Mam would settle down in her fireside chair, with Audrey and I sitting at her feet in the glow of our log fire. Dear friends, what a magical time. Mam? we asked, "Say that poem you always do on Christmas eve"....It was called.."LUCY GREY", I cannot remember all of it...(Maybe someone can tell me it all, if it`s known by any of you?)

It starts.... Oft I`ve heard of Lucy Grey,

and when I cross the wilds,

I chance to see at break of day,

that solitary child.

No mate, no comrade, Lucy knew,

she lived on a wild moor.

The sweatest thing that ever stood

beside a cottage door.

"Tonight will be a stormy night,

and you to the town must go,

and light you`re mother through the snow."

That Father will I gladly do,

tis scarsely afternoon,

the minster clock has just struck two,

and yonder is the moon,

At this, the father raised his hand

and snapped a faggot band, and Lucy..

..took the lantern in her hand.

......I cannot remember the next bit...

the only bit after that I can recall,was.....

The wretched parents all that night went searching

far and wide,

but there was ne`er a sound nor sight to serve

them for a guide.

They wept, and turning homeward cried ,

'In heaven we all shall meet,"

when in the snow the mother spied

the prints of Lucy`s feet....

THEN IT GOES ON SOMETHING LIKE..

The fawn at play,,the hare upon the green,

but the sweat face of Lucy Grey,

will never more be seen...

Dear God, It affects me still! Audrey and I always shed a tear when Mam recited this poem, but we loved it just the same. There was also a little song Mam used to sing to us..

....Christmas eve, all dark and cloudy,

Time to go to bed,

we must hang our little stockings,

just above our heads.

through the door or down the chimeney,

in the candle light,

Santa Clause the Christmas fairy

means to come tonight.

Our terraced houses were solidly built, the outside walls were 2 feet thick of stone....Remember Audrey and I were quite young then when we were told around 9.00pm it`s bed time, children, away we went up to the bedroom, this particular

Christmas eve was a very cold night, with already a heavy frost formed on our back field, as we gazed out of the bedroom window. as though the field was painted with silver glitter. The window sill was 2 feet wide, and Audrey and sat oin the window and sang Christmas Carols, for ages, till mam shouted up. "All right you two, time to lie down now"

Part 22

When we were young, around 1942, sometimes we were given a real treat, A visit to the EMPIRE THEATRE, at Gateshead.

The trams were then, the quickest way to go, as they clanged their way along the main road to Newcastle, from nearby , where we lived , Which was the terminous at Heworth. so away we would go.. Mam, me, and my only sister Audrey. There seemed to me, to be a tram due every 6 minutes, and we would get aboard and sit on the wooden seats, with those back rest that were switched forward or back depending which way the tram was going. There was the conductor with his 12" long board of tickets, all different colours, He`d pull the cord suspended along the length of the rows of seats on the cieling, this tinkled a bell and away we would go, at a tremmendous 20 mph.

There seemed to be a stop every 2 minutes, so it took about 15 minutes to get to "THE EMPIRE." theatre, where the three of us got off. I remember the passage inside the theatre going to the stalls was all tiled with ceramic victorian style tiles of all colours.

We enjoyed the show very much,--- jugglers----comics----dancers-- singers and acrobats. My sister and I were absolutely enrapt in the whole thing.

When it was finished, we made our way out with all the people rushing to get into the queues for the tram home...We took our time, for we first would go to "THE DIP SHOP" which was just across the busy main road , outside of the theatre. Now this was a tiny shop and there were always a queue there, with 10 folk in it, it was full, so the queue was outside in the street. A dip was 6 pence, What it was, I can only descibe as the most savoury taste that can be imagined.
two middle aged ladies were serving, one served Mam...'Three dips please" asked Mam. the lady took three large bap buns cut them through the middle, dipped each half into a sort of 2" deep 30" square pan which was filled with sausage meat and onions that was over a stove, all piping hot, then the lady put a large spoonful of the sausage meat into the bap ,Put each finished bap into a little bag and away we went to the queue at the tram stop. Went straight upstairs into the open front of the tram and ate our delicious baps on the journey back to Heworth and home. My mouth is watering at the memories of it all.

PART 23

Well friends, before we had the electricity put in as you know we only had gas.

Our radio was run by a accumilater, (Sort of a glass battery, with acid in and two electrodes) It wasa carried by a metal handle....This Accumilater only lasted 2 weeks and there was a shop on the Felling Highstreet where these were charged up for a very small cost. we would take our accumilater in for charging, and Mr. Howie, (that`s what the shop was caled--Howies) wwould lend us another one while ours was being charged---at a small cost...

I remember this day , Mam said to Audrey, my sister and me, we need the accumilater done?? My sister said I`ll take it to the Felling Mam.

Off she went with my two wheeled bike......Now I must explain---The felling Highstreet is built on a 1 in 5 hill

quite steep, in other words.....half way down it got even steeper. Howie`s shop was 20 yards from the top, she got the replacement accumilater and hung it on the BRAKE HANDLE of the handlebars....She then got on the bike meaning to turn round and go back up hill but found that tha accumilater handle stopped her from applying the brake!!! Down she started to go at a great speed till she was really flying screaming with terror a guy tried to run after her to catch her but she was now absolutely fying down towards to very busy main road packed with buses, tramcars, and the usual fast main road traffic, Two men had another go at trying to stop her but failed too. She closed her eyes turned the steering wheel, and ran hard into what was the gable end of the "British Restraunt" where sometimes ,Mam used to take us for our dinner, during the war,

Audrey was rushed unconcious to the nearest doctor`s who had a surgery on the main road, Doctor Miller`s He brought her round and sent for an ambulance, Mother was informed and she and I rushed up to the hospital....When we got to her bedside---I could hardly recognise my own sister----Her face was bl;ack and blue all over---But what was more frightening to a kid like me, was her dear face was so swollen up like a large football that her eyes were not visable...A few tears silently run down Mam`s face,,,and this affected me in a deep inner way. For I thought in my childish way---Is our Audrey going to die????

My only sister 1 year before her death escape

With the good Lord`s help she survived and got well again, but it took 2 months to be complete. When I think of it now--------How on earth did she have the presence of mind to turn off before being surely killed on the main road at the bottom...I`ll never know.

I`m not what some folk call a very religous person, although I set my standards and am religous in my own quiet way, to my maker. He was indeed watching over my only sister that day.

My sister Audrey as she is today

PART 24.

Christmas morning 1943....My sister Audrey and I , had been awake for ages wating for our Mam and dad to stir. for mam and dad always came downstairs with us two, every christmas day.. (When we were very young, Mam used to say "come, let`s see what santa`s brought you"......
Audrey`s things were on one side of the room---and mine on the other...
Audrey had received a little stove, 18 " square..with 3 burners....(Dad had made, & painted)---Mam had bought from somewhere , little aliminium frying pan-----steamer----set of three pans. A Kettle and tea set ......a "Lucy Atwell " book. A lovely doll complete with wool dress-- coaty----socks----little hand bag... and a Selection box (small)

I was absolutely astonished---For there standing beside the "Glass door" was a new bike,,,complete with lights and dynamo...........I ran to my Mam and Dad and hugged them tight.......I also had a "Beano Book" and a model steam engine, which actually worked. (It was made in Germany)
We both went to the mantlepiece and took our christman stockings down from where they had been hung the night before , and each emptied them on a corner of Mam`s new clippy Mat...
out tumbled all sorts of goodies----- 6" long piece of candy bar------an apple-----an orange-----assorted nuts-----a packet of candied cigarettes and two brand new minted pennies...

It was only 5.0am and still dark outside, and I was fascinated by the dynamo that made the light on my bike shine so brightly....so I asked Dad if I could ride along the lane to test it out....He stood at our door , and watched as I sped, along our lane and back, the light shining like a searchlight......
I came back in side-----------"Right brother, I`ve just made some tea" said Audrey , pottering round her make believe stove.....Anyway our Mam and Dad and me, all joined it the spirit of it all....and Audrey made as though to poor the tea and we all made as if we enjoyed it,,.....Dear God------What wonderful times of long ago------gone for ever... Kenneth....(my sister Audrey and me taken about 1940)

PART 25

When it was very icy and the ground was 6 inches deep with snow , Our Mam always saved the crusts of bread up in a big jar......along with any bacon rind that was left. it was as I say , all kept and not thrown away.

She also kept an old baker`s wooden tray.... She would cut all the crusts up into 1 inch pieces put them into a huge old iron pot along with the bacon rind and anything else that had been saved------she then added 1/2 cup of milk and a full cup of boiling water....simmered this for about 10 minutes----Then we put the hot bread mash onto the board and Audrey and I would carry it outside into the snow,,,,the steam rising from the hot mash, soon stopped in the biting cold we`d run back into our house and watch the sparrows and starlings come from nowhere....poor things. and eat ravenously. the odd crow and sea gull also paid a visit. , Audrey used to say, "I`m sure they know it`s dinner time Kenneth" Because they`re never far away.. and swoop straight down as soon as we get in the door......

If the readers remember there was a rise in the road to the level of the coal lines....each side...from the level of our street up about 3 feet...to the lines then down 3 feet to granny`s street level.......the local greengrocer who sold from a horse and cary,,,,called Mr, Swap. sold his wares every 2 days down the street,, and this day the roads were very icy.....Mam bought her turnip and cabbage etc. and Mr, Swap shouted "Gee up there " to his horse.. the poor thing got half way up the slope and went down trying to pull the heavily loaded 4 wheeled cart, up the rise.....Audrey started to cry and ran intro the house screaming with fright as the poor horse struggled to get to it`s feet in vain.....Mr. Swap put the brake on....and took his horse whip and give the petrified animal three or four lashes....the horse sprung into action and after 2 minutes got to it`s feet.....By now there was a few of the terrace people watching and 3 men myself and Mr, Watson who looked after the crossing traffic got behind the cart and all heaved together.....The horse and us managed to get to the top of the slope onto the lines...and stopped.....Mam asked...Did yoiu have to lash out like that, Mr. Swap???

Well , Jenny, I know it looks cruel , but it had to be done , to get him to strive harder to get up......Anyway I think I`ll just serve the terraces down here . (Gran`s street) then put him in his stable for tha day, It`s too dangerous....Seems trivial now , but at the time my heart was in my mouth when I saw the poor horse go down.

PART 26

With playing at the Catholic dances...I made a lot of friends there.....I actually had a girl friend, who I liked very much, called Kathleen,,,who was going to college to be a school teacher......We were only 16, but we at least got to meet eachother`s parents....My gosh! I thought, this is becoming serious... (When you`re young these are the lines one thinks along) Of course being brought up to respect a girl who I liked ... We never even thought about anything more than kissing and long cuddles, which were lovely anyway..

After a few months Our interest in each other seem to dwindle and we drifted apart, as one does when you`re young, parting as good friends.....then there was --- Jean ---Audrey---Celia-----Enid----Irene----and finally Olive...........The thing was , with playing all over the place I was meeting lots of nice girls, all the time.........

At tghis time I was a regular church goer.....and ended up a Sunday school teacher....every Sunday after the main service.......

My Sister Audrey had a wonderful voice, And she had many friends in a Zionist Chappel.....I went along sometimes and played some music for their enjoyment.... Now, these people used to celibrate somethnig called "The Anniversary" when on a special night,,,different people would entertain a crowded hall..............................

Dad said.....Audrey whu don`t you sing something for the nice people, on the Anniversary......So it came to pass that Audrey was to have a slot in the entertainment...three weeks hence.... Dad would accompany her on piano...which was at the side of the stage.... This is a photo of my lovely sister just before she went on stage,,,that night...

Having practiced 4 nights a week for three weeks at home.....to sing "THE HOLY CITY" Me....Mam....Dad...amnd Audrey were very nervous...........We need`nt have worried, as Audrey took the stage and everything went quiet....Dad played the introduction, and once Audrey sang thefirst three lines her confidence grew, by the second, she let her full voice capability loose,,,for she had no bother reaching the top notes with piercing clarity.... the people were in awe of her ability.......

.My Mum sitting next to me shed a little tear , as Audrey hit the very high last note, and held it strongly, till Dad played the last cord of the music........Everyone in the hall stood up clapping My Sister off the stage, You know friends, what it feels like when something you`re listening to , makes the hair on the back of you`re neck stand up......Well that night lives in my memory, as clear as if it happened last night.....It was so emotional.....Dear God , What a memory to recall, such what might be called a simple event.....but not to me---It`ll stay in my memory for ever.

PART 27.

1942.....The C.W.S. Cabinet works, stopped making furniture and changed over to building "HAMILCAR" gliders,,,,to be ready for the Normandy invasion.....Our Mam and her Sister , our Aunty Elsie, wrere the first two women to start.....Aunty Elsie ended up inspectress. and Mam a forewoman....Our Aunty Sarah,,(Dad`s sister) also started, along with her neighbour next door, Here`s an old photo of them after they had worked there for 12 months,,,,along with some of the departmental managers, of the time....

Mam is far left.....Aunty Sarah is far right---and Aunty Elsie is second far right.

Mam got permission to take my sister Audrey and me into the factory for one hour...I was amazed by it all...I watched as huge articulated lorries waited to load at the massive loading bays....each lorry was loaded with a complete fusilarge, with the wings loaded each side separately......All the cabinate makers were working on the wooden frames....the place was a hive of industry...we evetusally arroived at Mam`s department........The smell of dope paint ...was almost overwhelming...I watched as Aunty Sarah stitched the linen cloth onto the airframe, as tight as she could.....there were 5 ladies doing just this job....they were followed by a team of 6 ladies painting the covered linen frames with this DOPE PAINT.. this seemed to dry in no time at all, and was as rigid as metal when dried properly.....The ladies all wore gauze masks but Mam said they did`nt help much. the danger of inhaling the fumes was very obvious...and all the sewers and painters were given one pint of fresh milk every day...and were ordered to drink it.....At the begining of 1943 there were men up on the roof painting cows---trees---green fields--etc,, so as to misslead the German bombers......Yes friends everybody seemed to settle down and do their bit at that time of need.

Part 28.

I wonder if any of you have had the experience of living with gas lighting only?

Onw thinks of an egg as fragile....but let me tell you a gas mantle is 4 times more fragile......Every 6 or 7 weeks the gas mantle would break, with the popping when lighting...and Mam would say Kenneth..go along to Frecker`s shop (This was a tiny shop at the end of our lane about 1/2 mile away) and get a new mantle...and don`t... what ever you do.. break it!!!

The mantles were in a little soft cardboard box blue coloured, about 3 inches square......Now Mam would watch to make sure I did`nt go on my bike...so I had to walk.....I was so petrified of breaking it on the way home, that I held it out in front of me with both hands, as though my very life depended on it`s safety......A new mantle had a sort of dressing impregnated in it to try and make it not so breakable, and when Mam removed the broken one from the gas light, then gingerly put the new one in it`s place, before the gas was turned on this dressing had to be burned off. so mam lit a match put it to the bottom of the mantle anf it flared up burning the new dressing off....the gas was then turned on but very low the light would pop gently and everything was fine.mam turned the gas up and there was a bright light once more......I have seen gradpa over the lines at gran`s put a new mantle on the light fitting and fforeget to burn off the new dressing and when he turned the gas on to light the room it popped loudly and of course the new mantle blew apart. and Gran was furious......Once the gas people were digging a hole to check the gas main, at the end of our street, for a pssible leak, so we had no gas for 2 hours. but Mam used to keep an old parafin lamp for just this emergency...this is what it looked like

Tthe light in my bedroom had no mantle at all , it was just a jet of flame like you sometimes see in an old victorian era film.....how it didn't set fire to the cieling I`ll never know...

In the bad winter days mam would bank the living room fire right up, then when it was burning furiously she would dig a shovel of red hot coals out and run up stairs and drop it in the little open fire grate so Audrey and I could play up in the bedroom beside the warm fire. away from the bitter cold outside....happy days all gone....bless you all, every one Kenneth.