Introduction.
It was a Friday if I'm not mistaken and I have a feeling that the young (and, at the time, shapely) Queen Elizabeth II visited my vicinity on, or just after, my happy and glorious birth. Not that I would have cared about the shape of Queens at the time, although at least one, unshapely queen would try his luck in later years - when I was still snake-hipped and magnificent; but I digress.
I think it rained. Not on my parade, but hers. Obviously I can't actually remember - being a babe in arms and everything. I can't recollect anything before actual occurrencies that are embedded deep within my memory module/cells/cerebellum.
One I can date: 20 Oct 1957. The other I can't. Which is correct?
The first was the birth of my brother.
The second was being in the back garden of 1 Alan Avenue, Failsworth on a blisteringly hot summer's afternoon when Mrs Horton had a slide and a tin bath full of water that she excitedly told us would be 'just like Blackpool'. She went on to explain how we would climb up the slide and shoot down into the welcoming waters of the tin bath bath at the end of our descent. She over-promoted it.
The slide was a 1950s edition: hardboard nailed to a Dexion frame. The Dexion was fine. It was the hardboard that hindered progress. Consequently, once you had soaked your 'cossie' in the bathtub, you stuck like a forlorn limpet to the 'slide'. Even then, precocious brat that I probably was, I knew she hadn't thought it through. There were other children there, including Mrs Horton's own I would imagine. They made no impression on me whatsoever even though she lived there throughout my childhood. This really worries me. Were they that nondescript? Hard to believe. All I remember from my early years is feisty folk who would give as good as they got. Whoever stuck to that slide in the blistering heat of an early 50s Mancunian heatwave must have been completely devoid of personality. Ah well.
The slide was a 1950s edition: hardboard nailed to a Dexion frame. The Dexion was fine. It was the hardboard that hindered progress. Consequently, once you had soaked your 'cossie' in the bathtub, you stuck like a forlorn limpet to the 'slide'. Even then, precocious brat that I probably was, I knew she hadn't thought it through. There were other children there, including Mrs Horton's own I would imagine. They made no impression on me whatsoever even though she lived there throughout my childhood. This really worries me. Were they that nondescript? Hard to believe. All I remember from my early years is feisty folk who would give as good as they got. Whoever stuck to that slide in the blistering heat of an early 50s Mancunian heatwave must have been completely devoid of personality. Ah well.
On the 19th or 20th of October 1957 I can remember being wheeled in a wooden cart by my father (Joe Garry) and uncle (Mo Geddes) to my Nana's (Florrie Ford nee Richardson) and Pop's (John Ford) in (26) Ashworth Street, Failsworth. My memory recalls being transported down Parkside Avenue and a turn left onto Newton Road. It was a great adventure. It was dark. It was Autumn. I'd never been outside that late before: it was intoxicating. Later - after we had arrived at my grandparents, I was presented with unwarranted toys and generally had the time of my life as everyone seemed just so, well, pleased about things beyond my comprehension. I lapped it up. Forty-odd years later the 'baby brother' lustre faded. But more of that later. I would have been three.
I'm hoping that this memory map will also consist of a sort of social history of the times I lived through - whether actually remembered or not - along with what I can recollect of those times through my rose-tinted, 20-20 Specsaver Specials.
For example: in the year of my birth the first Wimpy bar opened in Great Britain. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wimpy_(restaurant). The English Electric Lightning made it's maiden flight http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Electric_Lightning. Donald McGill, the artist of saucy seaside postcards, was found guilty of breaching the Obscene Publications Act 1857 and Roger Bannister broke the four minute mile. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Bannister. Other things happened as well. Elsewhere in the World.
The Vietnam War began just before I did http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War. Bill Haley recorded 'Rock Around the Clock' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Haley_%26_His_Comets and Hugo Chavez was born two days before me .RIP Hugo. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugo_Ch%C3%A1vez
The Vietnam War began just before I did http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War. Bill Haley recorded 'Rock Around the Clock' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Haley_%26_His_Comets and Hugo Chavez was born two days before me .RIP Hugo. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugo_Ch%C3%A1vez
Obviously the first few years of this remembrance will be sparser than the latest few years, so I think I'll initially limit it to the first twenty years. Now, if you think that's copping out then you have no idea. It was the years after that inertia set in. Hopefully each year will be a blog. Here goes.............
Playlist:-
Little Things Mean a Lot - Kitty Kallen
Wanted - Perry Como
Hey There - Rosemary Clooney
Young at Heart - Frank Sinatra
Rock Around the Clock - Bill Hayley & The Comets.
No comments:
Post a Comment