The Things We Forget At Our Peril
I received a wonderful email the other day from a lady I don’t think I have ever met but who clearly has a soft spot still for the Villas and all the joy the place provided her growing up.
It’s a beautiful piece so please read on. I’ve taken the liberty to edit and add a few bits but this is all Pat Sowden’s; thank you Pat!
Hi Steve – thanks…I have read with interest (and laughing!) the episodes of the old “Club House”!
I remember it so well; we bought 456 Kings Road – a brand new build – and our neighbours were Doreen and Geoff Dunwell who had not been married long and went onto have their children there. [Stevie Dunwell, star of The Great Milk Crate Test Matches – Ed]
Our back garden joined the field, so Dad (when he wasn’t working) got to know the fellas who came and friendships were made. They all used to “cut through” our garden.
He was soon “helping out” as there were always “jobs” to be done. He never had the opportunity to play or watch and follow the team as he worked all day every Saturday but if ever a friendly game arose on a Sunday he would try and have a “game”.
Full of enthusiasm but sadly always out for a “duck” – poor Dad.
I used to look out of my bedroom window and watch this hardy group “roll the crease” with the big roller backwards and forwards for what seemed like hours! I used to wonder what they talked about all that time? [So did we as kids]
There was Ernie and Mrs Taylor (who always brought her knitting) and their son Gerald who had bright ginger hair. Frank and Sheila Bentham and Martin who lived in Kings Drive.
Mick [Arthur the Legend] Rooney had a great “quiff” of hair, Brycreamed back to start with – but when he had balled a few his “quiff” was no longer!!
Ernest Jackson and his wife and children, Brian Haigh, Donald Jowett, Tom Brown and his wife and dear Granville Lawson. [First time anybody ever called Our Granville “dear”!]
We went on holiday once with Frank, Sheila, Martin and Granville and hired a boat on the Norfolk Broads; Mum knit us all matching jumpers in red and white one of which Dad said looked so big it would make a great cover for the Lambretta!!
Most of the photos are us drinking outside different pubs!
We used to have Christmas “dos” at each others houses. Mr and Mrs Johnson and Mick Johnson lived on Wrose Road and John Armitage lived in Kings Road.We – the younger “end” made friends too – Mick Johnson and John Armitage were both great lads.
Mick [Known to us as Captain Birdseye and sadly no longer with us] went into vending machines and John joined the police force.
We all used to go on the train to Halifax to the Speedway on a Saturday night and had to stand right on a bend in order to be sprayed by the cinders and to take in the smell of the bikes! All part of the excitement! We used to meet in the bus shelter at the crossroads in Kings Road where Bosworths Bakers were. [Probably a tanning salon now!]
We had an annual coach trip to Birstwith CC for a “friendly” on a Sunday – what a lovely spot that was – sitting round the outfield sunbathing and having picnics (no mobile phones then glad to say) but Mrs Taylor had her knitting!
Then on the way back we would stop off at Knaresborough and find a pub and sit round chatting and having a pint or two or three. Good job we young ones were never asked our ages!!!
There was a rota for preparing the teas [They used to call this bit volunteering] and if it was Mum’s turn I used to have to get the salmon paste from Redmans in the Old Kirkgate Market now long gone.
I dont know what they put in it – but it WAS good (maybe we are best NOT knowing!) and potted meat. The teas were “plated up” with a couple of sandwiches, a scone and a bun (home made of course).
We had a “Bonfire Night”, trying to raise funds once again. [Marvellous nights that as kids we enjoyed too]. I remember frying onions for the hot dogs with Frank Bentham – goodness they smelled good!
We had set up shop in the old score hut – big frying pans for the sausages and knee deep in bread rolls (no health and safety then thank goodness!). Freezing cold.
The dear old wooden cricket hut! – just as you describe it!
One year the “gang” found a bar which was coming out of a pub refurbishment (sounds like one of Dad’s deals) and it was put into the Cricket Hut – it DID look good – somewhere to hide the “penny trays” of sweets out of sight of the kids [We still found them] and to set out the plated teas.
The downside was that the bar still had the pumps connected – and so everyone who visited thought we had got a license – the towels were permanently over the pumps!!
“One day, one day …..” There was ALWAYS “vision”!! [And that in a nutshell is the spirit of the Villas]
I laughed at your writing of Brian Haigh – as he used to “rub-up” the rest of the chaps – he always had plenty to say – but it stopped there and anything to do was left to the “hardy men” – much to their displeasure sometimes !!!
They were very happy days – I’m glad I was “there” at that time – the lovely noise of grass being cut and the sound of leather on willow – nothing quite like it!! [And still not…]
Leave a Reply