Cliff’s Bio, Part 2. 1948 to 1962.

Living at 68 Lewin  Street was about having a good time with the local boys, mainly after school and weekends.

When we first moved into the house there was a real “gas lamp” at the bottom of the “ally” between the houses of 68 and 70 Lewin Street. This was placed on the edge of the footpath, near to the road. It was lit, each night, by the local “lamplighter”. The gas lamps were at that time the only way in which the streets were lit. Gas was also still used in many of the houses for both heating, cooking and as lamps for the lights in the houses. This was soon to change however.

As an aside, the “ally” was, and still is, paved with the traditional “blue” house tiles or bricks. These had been mislaid many times and as such were not “smooth”. Indeed, the next door neighbours made many many complaints to our parents about the noise made when we went down the “Ally” on our roller skates. I can still hear the noise to this day. Anyhow, we did not care as these people had no children and were perceived to be right fuddy duddies. How cruel children can be, looking back they were quite right to complain about the noise.

We should all have had our skates “removed” for good. There were some 6 to 8 children with skates and they would all go down the “ally” one after another, not once, but many many times. 

At that time, and next door but two was Hardmans, the local butchers and slaughterers for the local farmers, mainly pigs, and cows. They also had at back, behind Lewin Street the land for what had been a small farm. The land and old farm buildings were just made for all sorts of games for both boys and girls and we spent endless hours and days, during the school holidays playing. Best of all Hardmans had a farm in the country and therefore did not spend much time in Lewin Street and the land was just made for having a good time. I think that Hardmans were just using the land to fill in with all of the old bones from their business, as there were many about in the open air. Not that this would deter anyone from playing there. The only problem was that you could tell it was Sunday, this was the day that they appeared to “kill off” all of the local stock for next week’s meat and pies. You would be awakened early Sunday by the pigs (first) squealing as they were “hit” by the humane gun. When this was over, next it would be the cows, funny how they went to their deaths much more quietly than the pigs. I never did go into the premises to have a closer look. The farm buildings at the rear were eventually sold off to make way for the “new” British Legion Club (the first one being an ex army, wooden, “Nisson hut”), probably from the airfield at Cranage and the provision of a bowling green. 

Ah well !!, all good things come to an end. 

However, at this time it was “all the rage” to collect cards from the inside of cigarette packs and as most of the people using the “Club” as it was called, were big big smokers, this was a good source for the cigarette cards. We probably had the best “sets” in town with much excess to swap. 

As lads, we also used to go for many “walks” outside of the town. “Mucks”, being one of them where we used to “jump” over the stream (well most of the time). This stream is still there, in the valley we called “Mucks” but is now the home of the local Sewerage Works. There are also many many woods in that general direction and we spent many a long day in them playing all sorts of games, mainly with ropes \ swings etc etc. 

Swimming was also high on the agenda at that time and there were many different places where we could do this in the local rivers and streams. The river Wheelock had a number of places where we would go, “Trees” being one of the main places. The place is still to be seen, however the trees that were there then have since fallen down due to old age. This place was to the left of the bridge on Nantwich road, over the river Wheelock, perhaps some 200 metres from the bridge. Take a look sometime, I have and you can still see where this was. You would get some 30 to 50 young people there on a good day and the water was clean enough to swim in, not so today. We would build a fire to get dry and warm and the farmers did not interfere with this at all. Another swimming spot on the Wheelock was called “Fox Hunters”. This was reached by progressing through “Bluebell Wood” from Sutton lane to the stream at the bottom of the hill. You would then go upstream towards “Broads Farm” for about 1\2 mile. The water here was much deeper and was “only for boys”. Again, to get dry we would build a fire. The river Dane was also used for swimming and the main spot for us from “Lewin Street” was across “Harbuts Field” (Where the Romans had had a camp and a ford across the river). This spot had a small dam that had been built by local industry (ICI) for the extraction of water for their chlorine manufacturing business. Good spot, not seen from the Middlewich to Northwich road, and not too far from home. There were also many many other spots to swim in the local streams, however we did also go on to Winsford baths during the school holidays when we were a little bit older. This was done by biking, with the swimming costume and towel pushed down between the handle bars and the cycle lamp holder. (The cycle, a red racer, was bought for me, by my father. He was none to keen to do this as it cost some £20\ £25 from Niddries. However, my Mum said he had to buy it and he did at £1 per week until it was paid for. This was the only item my father actually bought for me, well that I can remember anyhow.). However, many a good time was had at the baths, however you had to pay to get in (well most did, but not us). One of us would go in and pay, he would then keep “nicks” on the inside as the rest of us would get in through the hedge. The money saved would then be used to buy hot drinks, to get us warm again, after the coldness of the water. The “Winsford Baths” referred to were down “Rilshaw Lane” in Winsford. No longer there. They were open air baths built on the right hand side of the lane, on the side leading down to the “Flashes”. Very cold, but well used at the time by the local population. 

Funnily enough we never did mix with the boys from Winsford, how things have changed !!!

 Some of the main players in our local group in Lewin Street were:-

Keith Johnson, Fred  Johnson, Michael Gillett (they were rich as they owned the local sweet shop etc etc), Cyril Williams  (Taught me 3^rd differential equations when at Tech later !!!), Trevor Williams, Brian Hough, Alan Miles, Ken Evans

I am sure there were more but I cannot recall their names at this time. I also still had a great deal of contact with my “mates” in Sutton Lane, particularly with the swimming in the river Wheelock.

John Hough, Alan Robinson, Alan Fox, Billy Twigg

  There again were more, but their names are no longer available to me in my mind as I write up these notes.

I was also, at this time an avid picture goer. I would try and go twice per week. This was to the local Alhambra picture house in Wheelock Street, now used for the Chinese Restaurant, war stories and Cowboys being the main interest.

Again, this was different. Paying was not considered to be always necessary.

The “boys” toilet was to the front and right hand side of the screen, and most conveniently was also the emergency EXIT. One of us would pay the normal price for a front seat, or near to the front, and sit as near to the EXIT as possible.

Then we would wait until the attendant was “patrolling” the rear of the cinema, and would then go to the “toilet”. We would then leave open the EXIT and allow our other “payers” to come into the cinema. This did not always work and we were thrown out on a number of occasions having been caught out and then thrown out by our ear. Well it was good clean fun anyhow.

One day, out with our cycles, up from number 68 nearer to Gillett's shop but on the same side as the “Club” I was messing about with my mates and their cycles.

One of the boys lifted up his bikes rear wheel and pushed the pedals to see how fast his back wheel would go round, or something like that. I was fighting or messing about with someone else on the floor near to this action !!!. The next thing I knew was that my middle finger was under the cycle chain and half way round the rear sprocket, trapped between the cycle chain and the sprocket. We managed to get this out after much deliberation and went across the road to Michael Gillett's shop.  I “flopped” my hand onto the counter in order to show Mrs Gillett how bad this was, and it was bad. She nearly passed out as it was by this time pumping with blood, covered in “bletch” (oil and dirt from the chain) and I was in some considerable pain. However, off to the doctors to get it cleaned and stitched, no problem. However, not all of the “bletch” was washed away and the finger went “sceptic”. This was only corrected  by mother placing said finger into near boiling water each night to ensure all of the “sceptic” was removed. This went on for some considerable time, or so it seemed until it went better. I still have the scar to this day and if you look closely you can see where it was trapped on both sides of the chain.

 This did not stop me playing either football or tennis, although I did have my arm in a sling for some time.

Whilst this “wound” was healing I was playing tennis (well badminton) at the back of Keith Johnson’s house with all of the crew, me arm in sling, playing with my left arm. We both went for the same “shot”.  Needless to say he got there first, with his right arm pulled back (hard) to hit the shuttlecock. He did not get the shuttlecock, as when he pulled back his arm fully to hit it my TOP LIP was in the way. Whack !!!!. Top LIP now needed to be seen by the doctor as it was in two pieces, with blood all over the place. Doctors, lip pushed back together quite ruthlessly, it was Saturday night) and then “clipped” together with what felt like a garden fork. This was the “new” method of holding together open wounds, so he said. Again, scar to prove this can be seen to this day, lip misplaced, but the bleeding had stopped. Well this was the first days of the National Health Service. Looks like not much has changed, has it !!!!.

 These days went on much as described for the time I spent at Lewin Street.

 However, having mentioned Hardmans butchers shop, also at the rear of the shop was a gate leading into Darbishers fields and orchard. 

We used to “raid” the orchard more times than the fruit was picked, when in season. Many times we were chased out of the orchard by the owners son, Howard Derbyshire. He never did catch us, even though he once followed us right into our own back yard. However, we hid in the coal house and locked the door from the inside. He knew we were there but had to go back into his fields to take care of his horses. His apples were very very nice. He also had a horse, (these are the horses that my Uncle John would look after) that he would leave in the field some times. On one occasion we had “bets” to see if we could get the horse to come down to the gate near to my house. When we had done this a number of times the “bet” was increased to see who was “brave” enough to jump on the horse and ride him up the field. Cyril  Williams and myself somehow managed to both get on the horse at the same time. The horse then decided that 2 up was not for him. He proceeded to gallop up the field with Cyril and me holding on for dear life. We held on for some time but then we both fell off when the horse was at full gallop. We both, luckily got away without any damage. We did not attempt to try this again.

 We also, as we got older say 13 \ 14 managed to get permission to use the British Legion “Club” on a Saturday afternoon, for billiards and snooker. We actually got to be quite proficient and were “stopped” from this when the members found out that we were getting better than them at it.

This was a time when I had my first pair of “jeans” (from Manchester) and to hold them up, I was given a leather belt ,by Mrs Gillett. I also had imitation leather “flying jacket” didn’t we look the part.

As you can see by now that school was not too high on our agenda at this time.

We all did attend the same school in King Edward Street (Secondary Modern).

Cyril Williams and myself managed to get into the school football team, but Cyril was a better player than I was, however it was fun whilst it lasted. Although I managed to be placed in the higher school band of education I never was very good at learning the more complicated subjects. I was however good at PT (physical training), being the first in our year to do the forward “head flip”, and took quite a keep interest in “gardening” and “woodwork”. The Ironing Board I did make for my mother was used for some 15\20 years before it fell to pieces. I must have been good as some things !!!

I did have a number of good friends at school that were in my class. Maurice Higginson was perhaps one of the closest and he looks very well on our school (end of year, next to me with the standard “knitted” black and white tie) photo. Unfortunately, Maurice was not to make it past his 17^th Birthday, as unknown to us all (except his Mum and Dad) his liver had not grown since he was small and this lead to his premature death.

Maurice was the one that was with me in the open cupboard at the front of the class when we went to get our reading books. Unknown to the teacher, and with the doors fully open we could not be seen by her, but we could by the class. In the cupboard were sets of “knights” clothes that had been used in some school show. Maurice and I were having a whale of a time, both dressed up in these clothes and pretending to have a sword fight with two wooden swords. The class were in stitches, the teacher not knowing what was the reason for this was quite put out. However, unknown to Maurice and me the head master was just passing the class door and he could see from his position right into the open cupboard and came barging into the classroom. Needless to say we were both marched off to his office and given a talking to and some other corrective measure to our rear ends. These types of antics were a common occurrence with us and the time we spent at school was not taken too seriously with regard to lessons, (this I had to make up for later, as you will see).

 Maurice and I used to sit together for most of the lessons, until we were eventually split up and made to sit at different desks, in most of the classes.

In music we had both lost our lower voices at an early age. This was used to great effect with the music teacher who could not quite see who it was was causing all of the noise in the songs as she had her back to the class whilst playing the piano. Great fun was had by all. I also had quite a good singing voice (so I was told) when at school and would sing in front of the school with one named Ronny Newall. What ever did happen to them all !!!!

The next best friend at school is also on the photo (next to Maurice) was a boy from Holmes Chapel, called George Johnson. He was “Head Boy” and I used his position of responsibility to get inside the school and under cover when it was either raining or too cold to be outside. He used to hide me under the coats in the form “coat racks” if there was anyone about. It is some times useful to have friends in high places. I have not seen him since we left school although I believe he still lives in Holmes Chapel.

I also had, whilst still at school, a “Paper Round”. This was for Reggie Taylor on Wheelock Street. I had about 50 papers, was paid 10 shillings per week and never did miss out on doing this round (this was my only source of income as I was never given any “pocket money by my parents). The round started on High Town (Grahams Shop) then went up Queen Street, King Edward Street and some of the other smaller streets off St Annes Road. It then went up Park Road, and finished off at the end of St Annes Road, near to the canal. One tale of this paper round was that at one of the houses, next to Hannah's walk, in St Annes Road, on the left facing the house, and quite a big house had two white scotty terrier dogs. They would jump up at the door every time I placed the paper in the door letter box. However, the letter box was just too high for them to get the paper, well most of the time. If I placed the paper just through the letter box I could hear the dogs going nutty tying to get the paper. On a good day I would place the paper just through the letter box so that they could not get to the paper before the owner came to retrieve it. However, on a bad day I would not only push the paper just through far enough for the dogs to get it, (if they jumped high enough), but would also “hang onto it” so that the dogs would go crazy to try and rip the paper to shreds. He complained on a number of occasions “about his paperboy holding on to the paper etc etc) but I would always say it was not me but because the letterbox was too tight and would hold onto the paper at the “thick end”.  I never did get a tip from him at Xmas but did do quite well elsewhere.

I left school in the highest graded class 4TC. 4^th year technical and commercial. We never did any exams for the end of our schooling, don’t know why, but I then went on to work at the ripe old age of 15 as an apprentice electrician a position my Grandfather Bill Astles had obtained for me at J&J Stubbs, High Street, Winsford. I used to bike there and back for a 7.30 am start, to finish at 5.30 each day, except Fridays when it was 5.00pm finish. This was done in all weathers, even though there were buses we could have taken. The ££££ were too important to be used on buses !!!

Finally, for this section of my Bio at this age, I feel I must mention just two good points in my favour, and perhaps two bad points.

To start with, the good points.

1)     My mother had by this time a very good hairdressing business in Middlewich at which she worked very long hours. I would go up to the shop on a Saturday morning (only) and clean the shop out COMPLETELY.

2)  Following this I would then do ALL of the Grocery shopping at the co-op. Then I would go to the co-op meat shop (now Giorgio's chip shop) and pick out the meat for the week and the weekend joint. I would then go to Howe's, the cake shop (not in Lewin Street, but at the Boars Head pub where they started) and get the cakes for the weekend. (most would be eaten before Mum got home as she would be too late for tea). I would also, on a Sunday morning “hoover” all through the house and clean the vegetables for Sunday dinner and put the meat in the oven.

The bad points were that:-

1) I would, more likely than not, not be at school on Mondays, particularly in the last years. This was because Mother used to go into Manchester on a Monday to get the provisions for her hairdressing shop. Well, she needed someone to carry these for her didn’t she ???

2) In the last year at school, Friday, last two lessons, was the time when we had “MATHS” with Mr Rixson. I found this subject particularly difficult so I did not go to his lessons. Funnily enough, nothing was ever said about this by my school.

Why was this ???

I was then “working” for a living, biking to Winsford and back each day, 44 hours per week for £2-10 shillings. £2 .00 for my “board” 10 shillings for me, oh what a life. Lunch at Ma Astles each day, bliss, and burnt “fry-ups” when I got home for my tea prepared by sister Kay, as Mum was still at work !!!!. However, things were about to get much much better.

I was about to meet the person I would be spending the rest of my life with.

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