I went to live with grandma and granddad Nicholson Ward at Victoria Terrace, Church Street Brierley around 1924. They had five sons living at home, Arthur, Harry, Sidney, Charlie and John and a daughter called Annie. Granddad was a master tailor; he worked in a brick building in the corner of the yard. You could see him sat at his table in the bay window sewing. He made outfits for the Badsworth Hunt. He made the three-quarter coats with yellow cuffs with large oval silver badges with the Holgate coat of arms on. The Holgate Alms was situated on Robin Lane and is now known as Holgate Cottages.

     Next door to where we lived on Victoria Terrace, there was a lovely sweet shop. I remember some of the teachers at the St Paul's Church of England School being, Mr Sharpe the headmaster who lived in St Paul's cottage at that time, Miss Saulsby, Miss Hopkinson and Miss Wilson.

     I spent many happy times in the cricket field down Wager Lane, which ran alongside Hall Farm, watching Uncle Charlie playing cricket. The Wesleyans Chapel across from the school holds happy times for me. I had many friends including the Shackleton family, Rowley was one and also I remember with fond memories playing with the Baxendales, Penny Kenyon and many more.

     At Whitsuntide we toured the village on foot carrying a banner, some of us rode on drays singing our anniversary hymns. We stopped at Elms farm on the way for a glass of milk. On the Monday we had a tea and then games in the field. In the summer holiday we all had a day at the seaside.

I remember the dances at the Institute (now Brierley social club) watched over by the caretaker Mr Steele. We could do with Mr Steele today to keep some of the youths in order.

     I started work at the hospital on Brierley common for infectious diseases. Mr Goodhall and Mr Watmough were the ambulance drivers, who took the nurses to the homes to bring the children in with scarlet fever, diphtheria and hepatitis. Parents came to the hospital gates at certain times. As the children improved, we would bring them to a line so parents could see them. The hospital is now the Nite Owl.

    I remember Shrove Tuesday, pancake day, Mr Addy from Brierley Hall sent out boxes of oranges for the children, we played skipping, hopscotch, marbles shuttle feathers, "lovely times".

     We moved to 5 Park Avenue and on Good Friday there was a continuous stream of people passing the railings at the bottom of the garden going to the fare on Brierley Common. Grandma had jugs of water and mugs on a stool, it was so hot, and the people would walk in the garden and ask my uncle for a drink. Grandma Ward, a lovely Christian lady, would not allow me to visit the fare on Good Friday the day Jesus was crucified.

The summers where so hot it melted the tar on the road, our parents rubbed lard on the tar to remove it from our skins.

     There was Kenyon's butcher's shop across the road from the Three Horse Shoes. Mr Kenyon's granddaughter Muriel had the slaughterhouses in the yard. I remember they brought meat to grandmothers in white scrubbed baskets covered with a white cloth. Mrs Kenyon had sweets etc at the other side. Old Joe Kenyon ruled the place with a rod of iron. I can see the table and counters scrubbed snow white. The blacksmith's shop was at the other side of the road.

     I used to play with Walter Burton and his sisters Marlene and Margaret at the farm, I believe they are still there.

Baipip Dec 2000