I was born in 1945 and lived at 10 North Street, Barlick.   Park Road then seemed to be populated almost exclusively by members of my family....at 46 Park Road my grandmother Eleanor (Nellie) Harrison lived with her sister Edna Bowker, and at different times, other sisters including most recently (till 1989) Grace Simpson.   Grace previously lived further down Park Road with her husband Alf Simpson (at one time Chairman of Barlick UDC)....their son Jack and his wife Shirley also had a house in Park Road, and Alf's brother Billy Simpson (married to Bell another of my grandmother' sisters) had the Butcher's shop in Park Road.

I have fond memories of catching Sticklebacks and Bullheads in 'Cloggers Beck' and lackin' (playing) in an area between North Street and Forty Steps....I remember there used to be a big wooden shed next to the rough track going down to Forty Steps, and at one time it contained a huge fabricated shoe that I think was built for a stage production which included "The Old Woman who lived in a shoe".   On some occasions we go up Esp Lane to 'The Springs' which was then farmed by my great uncle Maurice Dewhurst (formerly married to another of my grandmother's sisters Annie).

I recall my friends from North Street included the Warrington lads, the Bracewell sisters, Wright, Broughton and Peckover boys.

I have a vague memory that, as a family, my brother John and I with our father and mother Frank and Joyce Harrison used to call in on folk living in Gisburn Road.   I feel that it could have been 203 Gisburn Road which is an address on funeral cards relating to Francis and Rose Harrison my great grandparents.....it seems that they perhaps ran a grocery shop or similar at that address.    In the vagueness of early memories I also associate the name 'Auntie Liza' with the same area.....this lady is Elizabeth (nee Harrison - I'm unsure of her married name).....I would  be most grateful for any information regarding this Gisburn Road reference.

In the early 1950s my family moved to the south coast and my grandmother used to post a copy of 'The Dalesman' each month.  There was a cartoon character called Young Fred who'd get up to some mischievious antics.....it was captioned in dialect and after a couple of years I began to have a little difficulty in figuring out what it said....but in my defence I think it did get rather extreme at that time.     It reminds me of an occasion when I returned 'up north' with my wife on holiday, staying with my uncle Jack in Cowling.    The holiday was in late July/early August and on a day which happened to be the 12th of August (the 'Glorious 12th') we had lunch in a moorland Pub.  Sitting in the inglenook was a chap with a girt stick and a Collie dog - Jack goes over to him......"Na then" says Jack "how't shooting going".   Now Jack had a wonderful strong accent......but when this chap started to answer - at length and with an even more pronounced accent  - Jack would from time to time nod and say 'Aye' or 'Na then'.    Eventually Jack returned to our table and, looking somewhat embarrassed, he said  "I couldn't understand a ruddy word he said".....

A bit early but.....Christmas Greetings.