WHEN I WAS YOUNG

kennethb · Joined: 26 Oct 2006 Posts: 379 Location: NORTH EAST ENGLAND

WHEN I WAS YOUNG --- PART 1

I`m sure we all have vivid recollections of when we were young, I know I do, About the happenings and people around me then , who coloured my early years, like a painter with his brush.

Where we lived, there were only two little rows of terraced houses, between which ran the coal lines taking coal down to the staithes on the river Tyne
(THIS IS TAKEN FROM AN ENGRAVING OF 1920)--I WAS BORN IN 1934

These sets of trucks were sent down and hauled up with an Inch thick steel cable, from a engine house about 200yards up the line from our houses. the cable rested and ran on steel rollers in the middle of the line.

There were no gates where the lines ran across the road, just a man called mr watson with his little red oil lamp, who held up the horses and carts and any other traffic that were passing, when the tricks were coming up or going down. One winter Sunday the coalman had`nt been that week, so Mam said you and your sister go onto the lines and scrape up the coal dust for me, Here`s a old bowl, just half fill it...(No trucks running that Sunday) so we took two old spoons to scrape the coal dust up, it lay an inch thick between the sleepers, took it back to Mam, who added some liquid soap, then form like large egg shapes and put in our coal house to set. When they were ready they burned a treat, till the coalman came the next day..

kennethb · Joined: 26 Oct 2006 Posts: 379 Location: NORTH EAST ENGLAND

WHYEN I WAS YOUNG PART 2

Part 2.

When one thinks back now, to those days, when hardly anyone locked their front doors through the daytime, when mam was ill one day there were two of our neighbours there like a flash saying "Now Jenny, don`t worry about the bairns I`ll see to them"

When someone in the street died, mam or some other lady of the street would lay the poor sole out ready for the undertaker. There was an old gentleman called mr. Bill Smith , who lived alone in the end house of our street. he never married, never smoked and ate only plain food, except on a Sunday when mam used to say Now son take this plate along to mr. Smiths, this is about teatime every Sunday, on the plate were a maid of honour a butterfly cake and a jam tart, all baked by mam the day before..

On reflection I really don`t know how we managed to sleep with the noise of the trucks going up and down, sometimes well into the night, Ithink our brains must have become used to it. Mam used to tell me about the brake trips(Bus trips today) gran used to take her melodion on and play. That`s where the musical talent comes from in our family, for music played a large part in dad`s and my life.

~~debbydo~~ · Joined: 18 Jul 2005 Posts: 20003 Location: Hertfordshire

Kenneth this is beautiful.
I love stories of the old days, I used to love the stories my nan told me about the war days and how she struggled.
My ex husbands nan was a land girl during the war.
I used to love her stories too.

Keep it up to me this is great.

kennethb · Joined: 26 Oct 2006 Posts: 379 Location: NORTH EAST ENGLAND

Thank you Debbydo----there are 42 parts to my diaries--(WHICH APPEAR IN ANOTHER 2 FORUMS)-----So for anyone who`s already read my young life`s stories -- I appologise for repeating them in here---kenneth..
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W. I. W. Y.

Part 3.

Then, Mam started working in a factory making HAMILCAR gliders for the Normandy invasion. 1942. The war was still going on, the main things affecting my sister and I were, Our Dad working 7 days a week, and Mam checking on our ration books, to see what she was able to get us, clothes wise.

When my sister and I came home from school we went straight to Granny`s for she lived just across the coal lines, about 120 yards from our front door, with both Mam and dad not home for us till about 5..0 pm we had our tea, I say tea, but it was more like dinner. There was my sister,me, our two cousins, (Who lived next door to Gran) the four of us sat down to our meal, we always looked forward to rabbit pie, Gran would make a huge pie with 2 rabbits that her son,MAm`s brother used to snare and catch where he worked as a plate layer on the railway line

Dear God!! Friends the smell of the pie when Gran opened the old oven door, was delicious itself, with the pie crust hanging well over the edge of the large pie dish, I should explain ,that the oven was in the old range in the fireplace, where Gran cooked her own loaves as well.

About a mile away from our houses was a battery of anti--aircraft guns and at least two nights a week these big guns would open up on the German aircraft. You must realise we lived as the crow flies about one mile from the river Tyne, where all the shipyards were working 7 days a week building destoyers, for the Navy, and these were what the bombers were after. Our windows shook violently with the noise. One morning on looking into our neighbour`s back yard, there was a huge shell sticking out of the wall it must have been at least 3 feet long.

After the army people had taken it away, I found my two pet rabbits in their hutch in our back yard both dead. Dad said " probably killed by the shock,son," We had a small allotment across the road from our front door, so Dad dug a hole and we said a little prayer and laid them to rest in a little corner, where both me and my sister would put flowers on every week, sometimes daisies, and sometimes buttercups.

In order to protect the shipyards, every 30 yards along our road was put a smokescreen. In the winter time Mam kept a old baked bean tin with a bit of wire round it to dip into the crude oil of the smokescreen to put on our fire to get it going quickly. On our way to school, which was about a mile away, we gathered shrapnel, which seemed to be lying everywhere. some quite hot, to hold.

One morning I saw a barrage balloon struck by lightning and burst into flames, it was all the talk when we got to school. Mam used to give us SPAM sandwiches, and she swore by the packets of dried egg, with a picture of UNCLE SAM ON,with his high top hat.

We used to get all our groceries from the CO--OP STORE. I liked watching the man cutting our butter from the huge barrel shaped mass, and the cheese was also a huge mass this was cut with a sort of wire with a handle on the end. No prepacked stuff them days, and fast food was a thing of the future, and I personally think we were healthier for the lack of it. Dad grew our own tomatos, spuds, carrots, leeks, and cabbages. like everybody else, in those days, we only managed our roast beef joint on a Sunday dinner time, because of the rationing.

kennethb · Joined: 26 Oct 2006 Posts: 379 Location: NORTH EAST ENGLAND

W. I. W. Y. PART 4

PART 4.

Music...whil`st Mam could knock a tune out on the piano, all the musical ability comes from my Dad`s family. A family of 4 sons who each played something 2 played the violin, uncle Billy played the piano, and Dad played the accordion. they had one sister who was`nt musical at all. Dad`s brother, my uncle Billy never had a music lesson on his life but could play any of the popular songs and dance music of the day..in any key. This, as a youngster, I found amazing.

Dad used to tell me that his mother, my Gran, played the melodeon , on what then, were called brake trips (What today we`d call bus trips) and play for the enjoyment of her friends on the trip. I should explain,A Melodeon is like an accordion but with buttons in place of keys.

When I was about 7, my parents bought a bran new gleaming piano, and I found I was able to pick songs up from the radio, and play the melody with my right hand, but when it was obvious to Dad that I was making progress in my quiet way, he showed me how to vamp accompanyment to go with my right hand melodies. And after hours and hours of dedication by myself, I really started to become quite accomplished, I thought.

Anyway Dad told Mam, that he thought I should start music lessons -- I had to walk about a mile and a half to a Mrs. Car. where I picked up the gist of different keys to play in..

After 7 months, I found the time I was forced to practice scales was sickening me, when I could play two or three popular tunes, so I moaned on to Mam so much, that when the dark nights came round, Mam told Dad I don`t like Kenneth walking that distance on his own! so ended my music lessons, (Which I came to regret later in my life) However I was, by by then able to read the notes, though not quick enough to play a tune from the music. but looking at a piece of music I could recognise what key the piece was written in, to be continued, when my fingers warm up? Kenneth.

Macs34 · Joined: 25 Mar 2004 Posts: 3467 Location: Kenya

Well! well! Mr. Kenneth Sir, you bring the best in you at this moment. I lov it. cant wait PART 5..

kennethb · Joined: 26 Oct 2006 Posts: 379 Location: NORTH EAST ENGLAND

Thank you Mac`s 34--

~~debbydo~~ · Joined: 18 Jul 2005 Posts: 20003 Location: Hertfordshire

Thats a lovely pic Kenneth....

kennethb · Joined: 26 Oct 2006 Posts: 379 Location: NORTH EAST ENGLAND

W..I..W..Y....PART 5

Part 5.

Across the wagon way that ran between the two little rows of terraced houses, where Mam`s mother,(My other Gran) lived, there was a family called Mr. and Mrs. Reed, who had 3 daughters. They had a piano too, and I spent many happy hours playing for the enjoyment of the girls(Who were all at least 5 years older than me) Mrs. Reed become to be known as my aunty Nora, Although she was no relation to me at all. Nearing chrismas mam would usually buy me a new suit for the school`s christmas party, I would try it on, then Mam would say " right son, go and show you`re aunty Nora"

I always think of the time I met a lad called Allen Perry (Who played the drums)as the begining of my musical career, such as it`s been, We both were a bit niave to think it would be just a matter of time before we made our way to playing at dances.. Practicing every time Mam and Dad went out ,in real earnest. We stuck together as friends and met another lad who played double bass. The three of us started going to a church dance that was held every Sunday night. We got to know the little band that were playing there, which consisted of two fiddlers, a drumer and a dear old lady on the piano. After a few weeks, (And each aquiring a girlfriend, who we met , only every Sunday night?)( Dear God how wonderful, when you were young, and innocent) Anyway it was`nt long before we were playing through the interval, while the band had a break,
The old lady pianist , took a great interest in my ability to play the dance music without the sheet music being present, she came up one night and said" Kenneth, how do you know which note to play next in any tune you`re playing??" I really could`nt tell her, and if the dear lady was here now I still would`nt be able to explain, how I`m able to do it.

One of the violinists died, and the rest did`nt have the heart to continue, so me and my trio began our first paid enagement in our musical lives. We played there for at least 2 years every Sundy night. Whilst this was happening Dad`s dance band of 6 players, had continuous full bookings, playing a t dances all over the North East. Uncle Billy the brilliant pianist, got a day time job cammourflarging the gas ometer on the banks of the river Tyne. He was working on a sort of cradle used to stand on to paint the huge gas ometer, His workmate said "right
Billy, time for our break" He then pulled the wrong rope and the cradle tipped up on end spilling the two men out, his mate survived,( to commit suicide 6 months later) but Uncle Billy hit the girders on the way down and died 3 hours later. He was 29 years old, with all that talent, what an utter waste. Dad never played again for 2 years, because of this sad event. In the meantime I was getting more and more confident in my own ability. I am now fifteen and a half years old, Dad started to accept private engagements, small dances ect, with me on piano. himself on accordion, a drummer and a double bass player.

My first dance in this capacity was, for the first half hour, a night mare for I was terrified in case I made a mistake, having to play all the intros...However, the second half of the dance I really started to enjoy it all, and Dad said " you did great son" It was a great experience for me to play with Dad because It meant, I had to play every tune in the key it was written , which enhanced my playing ability by a mile.(Anyone who plays just by ear will understand what this means)..to be continued. after half time.................

kennethb · Joined: 26 Oct 2006 Posts: 379 Location: NORTH EAST ENGLAND

W..I..W..Y---PART 6

During the war, the shipyards on the River Tyne were going full belt, About 12 years ago I read a book called "THE KELLY" all about H.M.S. Kelly the destroyer, captained by Lord L. Mountbatton. The ship was in the Tyne dry dock for repairs after being torpedoed. the crew all went to the dances held in "THE POWER HOUSE" dance hall at Hebburn. Guess who`s band was playing there at that time? yes it was Dad`s band, the fact that the dance got a fleeting mention made Dad feel very proud. He had a little banner embroidered which was displayed on the hall wall at the side of the stage, when the band was playing, It`s one of my absolute treasured possessions I`ve just photoed it and here it is...(Sorry about the size of the snap, I`,m having trouble with the site my photos are stored in)

The story goes that the lady who embroidered the banner thought that Dad`s name was "JIM. E. BEATTIE" Where as Dad`s name was "JIMMY BEATTIE"

As the years rolled on, I was now playing at better class functions with my own trio, and also playing with Dad`s dance quartet. He entered the band in an effort to secure a prestigeous old time dance engagement , against three other bands, Each band played one wed night, so after 4 weeks we waited to see if we`d been successful. Although , after Dad telling the couple leading the floor when we played, to "Let me play my own idea of the tempo I think suits every dance we play, instead of you waving your arms about to go faster or slower, Thank you"

However needless to say we played there for nearly 3 years. I have about 15 minutes of music I recorded on an old type tape recorder, the little bit of it I managed to get put on to cassette before it all crumbled to dust. here`s Dad, doing what he enjoyed most. bless him.

kennethb · Joined: 26 Oct 2006 Posts: 379 Location: NORTH EAST ENGLAND

W..I..W..Y.. PART 7

When Dad was 65, he began to have back and thigh pains, ha was eventually sent to hospital, where they decided to strech his spine with traction.!! He came out after a few weeks no better. We continued to play at the dances regularly, but I became aware that Dad seemed to sweat an aweful lot with the exertion of just playing the accordion.

Eventually he went back to the doctors, who sent him for a blood test at the local hospital.
When the results came to the doctors I was away, so my sister Audrey when to see the doctor, at his invitation. It sadly turned out that our Dad had terminal cancer of the prostate gland. He was never told, although with the benefit of hindsight I really think he knew something was seriously wrong. We continued playing despite my pleas for him to retire from playing at dances. In the end I concocked a story saying,"Oh Dad I`m sick of playing, after all these years" It was the only way I could think of to get him to pack it in.

He advertised his Italian Scandalli accordion for sale, and in 9 days a chap came, from outside our area, gave Dad the cash and took away his wonderful instrument, as the door closed behind this gentleman Dad broke down uncontrollably, after playing all those years. This was the most saddest time in my whole life, and will stay with me till I die.

About 1 year later, our phone rang at 2.00am One monday morning, it was Mam,"Can you come round son, Dad`s not at all well" Before going I phoned for the emergency doctor. I went to the bedroom where Dad was and sent Mam downstairs(MAM HAD HEART TROUBLE) I pulled a chair up to Dad`s bed and asked him, "What`s the trouble Dad?" He just said, Oh! It`s you Ken, well I have this terrible pain across my neck and shoulder."

Don`t worry Dad, I said, I`ve sent for the doctor, so just lie quiet, for now. He`ll be here shortly. with only myself sitting there with Dad, after 3 minutes Dads seemed to struggle for breath, with a gasping sound, I sat and watched my poor Dad pass away, when I thought Dad was out of his misery, (Imust have waited 5 minutes, to make sure, before calling Mam) I really don`t know how I was able to do this, for I`m anything but a hard natured man. I went to the landing, and started going down the stairs, 3 steps from the bottom all the lights in the house went out..(Mam used a slot meter for the electricity) and when I looked, here Dad had put two coins on top of the meter in reserve.

By now, my sister and her hubby and my wife had come to Man`s, for we were all concerned as to how our Mam would react, with her heart trouble, but we need`nt have worried, Mam proved stronger than we could have hoped.

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kennethb · Joined: 26 Oct 2006 Posts: 379 Location: NORTH EAST ENGLAND

Part 8.

Going back a few years, I was about 8, my sister was about 4. Living as we did 6 miles from the seaside, our parents took us down to the beach as often as they could, during the war that was`nt very often, and we loved it as kids do.

It was coming up to a bank holiday Monday, and Mam and Dad had promised Audrey and me that on that day in question it was to be a trip to the coast, and we both had been looking forward to this for at least a fortnight/ The big day arrived, when I got out of bed that morning I found the wind howling outside, and blowing a gale. It became obvious at breakfast, that some deliberation as to whether our trip to the seaside was on or not.

However, the look on our faces must have swayed the decision for it was decided to go anway, much to our joy.

When we arrived at the beach there was`nt a single person there. Now the beach at South Shields, is about half a mile long, and the four of us walked the whole length of it. At that time I was still in short trousers, and the sand stung my legs like sharp needles, Eventually we sat in one of the promenade shelters. Mam opened her basket, and out come the tomato salad sandwiches she had prepared earlier. Now with them being tightly rapped they ended up quite soggy, but with a few grains of sand in for added flavour, were really lovely. We must have looked a sorry sight sitting there eating our sandwiches in a howling gale. AH!! happy days.. It was decided by they who must be obeyed, that we should make our way back to the bus station, and return home to a nice coal fire, with all the warm feeling that always brings.

On the way to the bus station we came across the "LITTLE CINEMA". and Dad said "OH! come on Jenny we`ll go in" so in we went as we sat down the show was about to start, I remember as if it was yesterday, the film was Louis Hayward in THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK.

About 6 months later we were on the beach again, this time the sun shone brightly, and I remember after taking off my socks how hot the sand was to walk on, The beach that day was absolutely crambed, but Dad found us 3 square yards to call our own, we laid our blankets down and settled. Audrey wandered of down to the water`s edge to fill her little bucket with water, After 10 minutes Mam said where`s the bairn, I can`t see her, we started to look in earnest, Dad checked the "LOST TENT" but no luck,,I could see by my Dad`s face he was getting pretty concerned by now, the nice two couples sitting next to us on the beach joined in the search, Dad and I looked way down the beach, and then I spotted who I thought was the little devil. on our approach she looked as though she had`nt a care in the world, there she was sitting by herself trying to make "Pot Pies" with dry sand. my parents thanked everybody for their help.

Can anyone remmember how easy it was to stray off the line one took going straight from one`s parents to the water`s edge, then after a "Plodge" and enjoying the waves,on looking round to find you could`nt see Mam and Dad anywhere, before realising how far you`ve strayed from the straight line to their position on the sand? amazing.

As I said, most times we went by bus to the coast, but on rare occasions it was by train, this to me, in those lovely days, was a real joy. AH!! the smell of the steam, which was unique, and the clicking of the wheels, was wonderful, as we seem to fly down the track to the sea.

kennethb · Joined: 26 Oct 2006 Posts: 379 Location: NORTH EAST ENGLAND

W..I..W..Y.
Part 9.

Christmas , was a really magicEvery Tues. Morning, "The Co--op Man" used to call for mam`s order. This was ticked off on a long narrow order sheet, with everything in the food line that one could think of. He would go down the list, saying to Mam, any bacon this week mrs.? and "How are you off for cheese mrs,"? and so on. On leaving to go next door, he would give Mam a carbon copy of her order. By Friday the other "Store Man" had been with his little lorry and a cardboard box with our stuff was then delivered. He had`nt been long gone when there was another knock on the door, It was "The Gas man". for mam, like all the folk in our little street, had a gas meter, which was fed with the large old penny coins. I used to love and watch him rapidly stack the pennies up in rows, on the dinning table, with the oil cloth cover on,(For our white Damasc table cloth only came out , for Sunday tea times, and very special occasions) He would put 3 piles of coins in his money bag, and the remainder was given to mam, I then always had the job of feeding them straight back into the meter, so no coins were needed for 2 weeks.time in our house, not that we were well off , in fact we were quite the opposite. Mam could`nt afford to buy proper streamers, so we made our own, sticking paper chains together, till they were long enough, to reach from one corner of the cieling to the "GAS" light in the middle of the cieling, of course being a gas light meant that great care had to be taken, as to where the streamers were attached.

At school, we had been making our paper hats, calenders, and christmas cards, for more than 4 weeks, The wonder of christmas increased by each day, till everybody was going around with perminant smiles on their faces.

At last the day of the school party had arrived.

" Now ", said the teacher, "tomorrow, you must all bring a cup, a saucer, a plate, and a spoon, to school." That eve of the school party, I remember everyone taking their cards, and paper hats, and calenders that we had made for our parents home.

The next day aroud about 2.0pm the teacher saying, "Right boys and girls, now settle down" and we all found a seat round the hall of the school, the boys all sat on one side and the girls on the other. There was the, military two-- step, the gay gordens. the bradford barndance, and the Ideal shottiesh. We boys were ordered to choose a partner, and if anyone did`nt get up to dance, one of the lady teachers would get them up onto the dance floor. So rather than allow this to happen, we all picked a girl, as we were told.

After an hour, the interval was called, and we all lined up single file, to get our, 1 sandwich, 1 creamcake, 1 small portion of Ice cream, and a drink of lemonade. By now we thought we were in heaven.(The rationing was in full flow then) to be continued, when all the desks are put back in their proper places.

kennethb · Joined: 26 Oct 2006 Posts: 379 Location: NORTH EAST ENGLAND

W.I.W.Y. PART 10

Do you know the savoury thing on bread I liked the most??? Was a slice of newly baked bread, that was still slightly warm, smothered with the beef dripping from the bottom of the meat roasting pan, with a little salt added...What a taste!!! It`ll live with me till the day I die. So endeth part 10. (to be continued) Kenneth of the bread and dripping clan.

When I was not quite 10, we, that is our cousins Malcolm and Joan, my Sister Audrey and I decided to go potato picking, during the blackberry week school holiday. We were to be paid 5 shillings a day for 8 hours work

This was a enormous amount , when we were only given 3 shillings a week pocket money , and that only if Mam could afford it.

Anyway we turned up at the farm the first Monday of the holiday, and were each given a piece of sacking, which we were shown how to tie round our waists to form a sort of large bag at the front to gather the spuds up in. Then out to the field we all went, behind the tractor, on a low loader cart. In the field was many rows of potato plants, the tractor had a sort of small machine which dug the spuds up and scattered them on the surface, for us to gather up. Audrey and I had our stretch marked by a pile of empty sacks, which we put our collected potatoe in, These full sacks were then collected by the tractor with the low loader.

It was really back breaking work, for one was bent double 80% of the time,,,

When it was about 9..45.AM There was our Mam and Aunty Elsie (Malcolm and Joan`s Mam) coming into the field with a bucket filled with a large enamel can of piping hot cocoa

and sandwiches with loads of "Best Butter" and home made stawberry jam in. We were starving by now, and this lot tasted like nectar..

While we were having our sandwiches and cocoa our parents were busy picking our patch for us, I learned later that the farmer knew Mam well, anyway he never said a word, as long as the spuds were being gathered in, even after 20 minutes had passed and Mam and her sister left the field with a bucket each of new potatoes. he seemed to accept this as normal..

The first weekend after the blackberry weeks holiday we went blacberry picking, ending up with purple lips, purple hands too. Audrey and I brought home about 2 lbs of blackberries, which Mam washed then sliced in 2 apples and put the lot, along with half a pound of sugar into a large iron pot, The resulting jam was wonderful.

kennethb · Joined: 26 Oct 2006 Posts: 379 Location: NORTH EAST ENGLAND

w.i.w y.

Part 11.

Every year during the summer holidays I spent most of my time down on the local farm. If I was`nt there, then I would be in our garden across the road from our front door, building Bogies from old pram wheels and barrow wheels.. I had a little three wheeler tricicle and I used to attach my bogie to the back as a sort of trailer.

Yes I spent many happy days at the farm, helping to bring the cows in at milking time,

I can remember sitting on the gate of the adjacent field to the farm yard"I`m sure If they were left to themselves they would come in without any one bothering to be there."

One day I had a go at trying to milk a cow, and I`m sure she k new It was`nt the farmer, for she kept looking back at me, thinking to herself "Who on earth is this plonker?"

I used to watch every move the farmer made around the farm, for instance, before he started to milk a cow in earnest he would take the teet very gently and spray some milk onto his hands? He also talked to the cow all the time he was milking her.

I remember the farmer`s wife Mrs. Elwood, had two lovely persian cats, and as regular as clockwork they would stroll into the bire just as Bob the farmer would start milking, It amused me no end to watch what happened,

every milking time, they would both squat down opposite where Bob was sitting on his little stool, and every 5 minutes Bob would turn the teet towards the two cats and squirt their faces with the warm,, thick, creamy milk, and there they were licking their faces like mad. Milk straight from the cow is not like the bottle of milk delivered to your doorstep..OH! No, it`s much thicker and much creamier.

On the farm where the chickens just wandered anywhere at will, there were two wonderful Shire horses, PRINCE and LUCY, and for all their strength and huge size, seemed to me, to be the most gentle animals on the farm.

Every year there were two new calfs born, what gorgeous faces they had to. but when I got the job of feeding them, when they were weaned off their mother, they were a real handful, They were kept in a little pen inside a small out house building, which had a half door.

I would prepare the feed, which was 1 gallon of rich milk, 2 large soops of milk powder, and half a gallon of fresh water, all mixed thoroughly, and carried to the pen where the little devils were kept, in stainless steel buckets. I always made sure that only the bottom half of the split door was locked, so I could jump out as soon as the last dregs of milk were gone, for that`s when they used to go crazy, and It was better to be out.

Back tracking a little, but I remember thinking how clever the cows were, for there were 13 stalls in the cow bire, and above each one was a name, Diasy,,,Mary,,, Lilly,,ect. I mean they were`nt shown to their stalls but everyone went to her own stall. quite amazing.