In 1963 we were living in Sherrifhales, Shewsbery, Shropshire in a the middle of a wood in a Gamekeeper's cottage on our own. Mum used to walk me down the drive to catch the bus for infant's school. A bantam cockerel had a habit of chasing us until Dad rounded it up and twisted its neck! It sounds harsh, but I grew up watching my dad skin animals and doing the round of snares with Brother Ian. We even found a hare in a trap once. We made sure it was dead with punches to the back of the neck like Dad had shown us. Some how Ian carried it back even though is was bigger than him. It emptied its bowls all over him. What kind of older brother was I! My Sister Julie born was born here.
It was only 1.5 hours drive Rhyl . We went with the wife and son of a Gamekeeper friend of Dad's to stay in a static caravan. Dad didn't come or indeed his Gamekeeper friend. It was hard work for Mum with a very young daughter with all the nappies to wash and two boys. But Mum says that the friend's older boy (shown in all 3 photos) was helpful. Sadly, when she got back this woman discover her husband was having an affair, took a gun to the shed and killed herself. All very sad. It can be a lonely life for farm workers and others tied to the land. From listening to Farming Today on Radio 4, I believe the incidence of suicide is high amongst these group. From time to time Mum would talk about how lonely is was being a Gamkeeper's wife, with Dad out a lot working. Also, there was the issue of tied cottages, Dad wasn't good at being left on his own to get on with the job, and was also very stroppy. He got sacked or left the job often. I lived in 10 different places up to the age of 14. In the end that is why in 1967 we moved back to Swillington, West Yorkshire, and he got a job through Uncle Ernest for the MOD Royal Ordnance Factory Barnbow site, near Leeds. Mum started saving at Barnbow, but Dad refused to buy a place. It was only when the MOD refused to give him one of the new family houses they had built that he agreed and we bought our first 'owned' home in 1968, Swillington near Leeds, the same town that Uncle Nev, Aunty Joan and Cousins Sue and Linda lived. See Scarborough post for photos 1962-67).
I had planned a trip to Rhyl on 1 Oct but had to cancel so I can drive my Son to London, he is going back there to live. Trip being re-planned. Watch this space. Not sure ... My Skegness post previously said what I wanted to say.
