Voices of Cornforth

January 2020

Pocket Money

I remember taking pop bottles and Domestos bottles back to the shop and getting money back on them.

The late Albert Woods and I had a paper round with Pat Mahon. I am sure I took over from Charger Thirlaway when he went off to college.

Sweet Treats

Keeping the children in line.

High Days and Holidays

Scarlet Band, I remember them well, used to go on Mystery Trips with Scarlet Band on Sundays.

When I was a child late 40s early 50s I went to a pantomime every January in a Scarlet Band Coach.

The Midwife who delivered me arrived every January in a Scarlet Band Coach.

When we had our school parties I remember some of the lads would be the Beatles and Mr Lonsdale was Elvis. We loved it.

Spending time outside the house

Schoolhad a limited curriculum in the early part of the 1900s that consisted of joined up writing, times tables and, for girls, sewing. Several people remember carrying their chairs and school books with their school mates from The Regent School to the new school in the 1920s.

Those who went to school in the 1950s, and later, remember tuning into the radio for the music lessons Singing Together and Time and Tune.

The new school of the 1920s was demolished in 2016 and the new state of the art school opened. The gentle, largely one storey half- timbered school building was very much a part of the village scape and is missed by many.

The Games We Used To Play

We playedin the street or playground.

How did we decide when it was the season for two bally, skipping, whips and tops, marbles (though this was usually a boys’ game), Hop Scotch, diabolo, hoops and hoopl?.

We also played What time is it Mr Wolf?’ One potato, Two potato, Chase and tig, The Good Ship Sails on the Alley, Alley O, In and Out the Dusty bluebells and The Farmer Is In His Den.

We made dens and tents.

Inside run out of time

This needs finishing and I intend to continue my trawl through Cornforth Past and Present which is where I have got this background information which I think puts the biographies into context.

I am thinking of doing a bit on High Days and Holidays, The Churches, and anything else you can suggest.

Clubs and Organisations 1960

The Women’s Institute

West Cornforth Women’s Institute had its first meeting In 1935 and celebrated its twenty fifth birthday in 1960. The birthday party was attended by the county chairman Miss M Hawarth and Mrs Rochester VCO.

Miss Haworth cut the birthday cake which had been made by Mrs Stokoe and iced by Mrs Ward. Mrs Harper the vice president presented the president Miss Eggleston, who had held office for twenty five years, with a bouquet. Miss Egglestone presented the visitors with floral sprays.

Games and dancing were led by the MCs Mrs B Fleetham and Mrs JW Bell. Music was provided by Crosby’s Serenaders.

St Mark’s Women’s Fellowship

Mrs L Smith led the meeting, Mrs Miller gave a reading on behalf of Mrs Blythe. Mrs Buddin was the soloist and was accompanied by Mrs Stubbs.

Station Road Women’s Own

Mrs Auston presided over an Open Day at Station Road and also read the lesson. Mrs M Smith was the pianist. Refreshments were provided by Mrs Smith and Mrs Lockett.

British Legion West Cornforth Women’s Section

Mrs Rickinson and Mrs Ramsden presided and prizes were given by Mrs Elltringham, Walton and Walker. Prize winners were Mrs Fleetham, Mrs Hall Mrs Heslington. The British Legion concert committee provided the entertainment.

Growing Up

Before the Second World War most people left school at 14 and until the mid 1970s at 15.

Love and Marriage

Marriage has never been as commonplace as we have perhaps been led to believe. Couples have lived together as if they were married without being married throughout history. People accepted this. During the First World War separation allowances and pensions were paid to all dependents of servicemen including their unmarried wives.

People who lived together as if they were married may not have been able to marry because one or other of them was divorced. Divorce discriminated against women. Women possibly endured unhappy marriages because the alternative was destitution and ostracisation.