Now I know why Harry takes deep breaths when passing a chish & fips shop, 
just so he can smell the fish. 
And how he got to follow the horse racing, this was from his time in the mines, 
he loved watching the pit pony derby. 
Hi Norm,
I think Harry likes the fish & chip smells to reminisce about his days on the high seas.
Cheers Dave.
hiya,
Fantastic comeraderie among the miners Dave, as I’m sure your uncle will verify,
and even though i didn’t make pit work my career I never ever fell out with any
workmates and still occasionally meet old now retired lads I worked with all those
years ago this can only happen when I visit my brother who lives in Lancashire,it
was never the same in the road haulage game I came across some funny people
in that game,but must admit I did come across far more decent lads than I did
wrong-uns so I did have a reasonably smooth working life “on the wagons”.
thanks harry, long retired.
Yes Harry, he always has good things to say about his days as a Bevin Boy. He was getting more money down the mines than in the local quarry that he worked at in those days. He went on to be a manager of an agricultural machinery firm before setting up his own business which his Son now runs.
He was very pleased when the Bevin Boys were recognized for their war service.
Cheers Dave.
Dave the Renegade:
Yes Harry, he always has good things to say about his days as a Bevin Boy. He was getting more money down the mines than in the local quarry that he worked at in those days. He went on to be a manager of an agricultural machinery firm before setting up his own business which his Son now runs.
He was very pleased when the Bevin Boys were recognized for their war service.
Cheers Dave.
hiya,
It was surprising how many Bevin Boys remained in the mines and made it their
career even after the war was over I of course am too young to have been a BB
not starting in the pits until 1951, the money was good though I noticed a huge
drop when I left and got called up for national service after I chucked the pit to
work in a pipe yard so’s I’d get called up, pit pay about a tenner, pipe works half
that I was getting about four quid as a soldier, but of course no clothes to buy all
your food found and no lodgings to pay so I was slightly better off in the forces, I
got to drive large vehicles as well another string to my bow when I got demobbed.
thanks harry, long retired.
harry_gill:
Dave the Renegade:
Yes Harry, he always has good things to say about his days as a Bevin Boy. He was getting more money down the mines than in the local quarry that he worked at in those days. He went on to be a manager of an agricultural machinery firm before setting up his own business which his Son now runs.
He was very pleased when the Bevin Boys were recognized for their war service.
Cheers Dave.hiya,
It was surprising how many Bevin Boys remained in the mines and made it their
career even after the war was over I of course am too young to have been a BB
not starting in the pits until 1951, the money was good though I noticed a huge
drop when I left and got called up for national service after I chucked the pit to
work in a pipe yard so’s I’d get called up, pit pay about a tenner, pipe works half
that I was getting about four quid as a soldier, but of course no clothes to buy all
your food found and no lodgings to pay so I was slightly better off in the forces, I
got to drive large vehicles as well another string to my bow when I got demobbed.
thanks harry, long retired.
National service finished a few years before I would have been old enough to be called up Harry. I wouldn’t have minded if it had still being going. I would think it broadens your outlook on life at a young age and makes you more independent.
Cheers Dave.
Dave the Renegade:
harry_gill:
Dave the Renegade:
Yes Harry, he always has good things to say about his days as a Bevin Boy. He was getting more money down the mines than in the local quarry that he worked at in those days. He went on to be a manager of an agricultural machinery firm before setting up his own business which his Son now runs.
He was very pleased when the Bevin Boys were recognized for their war service.
Cheers Dave.hiya,
It was surprising how many Bevin Boys remained in the mines and made it their
career even after the war was over I of course am too young to have been a BB
not starting in the pits until 1951, the money was good though I noticed a huge
drop when I left and got called up for national service after I chucked the pit to
work in a pipe yard so’s I’d get called up, pit pay about a tenner, pipe works half
that I was getting about four quid as a soldier, but of course no clothes to buy all
your food found and no lodgings to pay so I was slightly better off in the forces, I
got to drive large vehicles as well another string to my bow when I got demobbed.
thanks harry, long retired.National service finished a few years before I would have been old enough to be called up Harry. I wouldn’t have minded if it had still being going. I would think it broadens your outlook on life at a young age and makes you more independent.
Cheers Dave.
hiya,
Yes Dave I wouldn’t have missed my short spell in the forces and I was lucky to travel
a large chunk of the Far East as well, the hard part was getting demobbed I would’ve
become a regular if I wasn’t getting married,it took a few months to settle down to
civilian life and of course being not yet 21 I had to return to the pits until I could drive
lorries for a living.
thanks harry, long retired.
did a spell at hilltop pit on top not down the mine.also did sum work with my wheel flat for fred temppelys trips to newton abbey
harry_gill:
Dave the Renegade:
harry_gill:
Dave the Renegade:
Yes Harry, he always has good things to say about his days as a Bevin Boy. He was getting more money down the mines than in the local quarry that he worked at in those days. He went on to be a manager of an agricultural machinery firm before setting up his own business which his Son now runs.
He was very pleased when the Bevin Boys were recognized for their war service.
Cheers Dave.hiya,
It was surprising how many Bevin Boys remained in the mines and made it their
career even after the war was over I of course am too young to have been a BB
not starting in the pits until 1951, the money was good though I noticed a huge
drop when I left and got called up for national service after I chucked the pit to
work in a pipe yard so’s I’d get called up, pit pay about a tenner, pipe works half
that I was getting about four quid as a soldier, but of course no clothes to buy all
your food found and no lodgings to pay so I was slightly better off in the forces, I
got to drive large vehicles as well another string to my bow when I got demobbed.
thanks harry, long retired.National service finished a few years before I would have been old enough to be called up Harry. I wouldn’t have minded if it had still being going. I would think it broadens your outlook on life at a young age and makes you more independent.
Cheers Dave.hiya,
Yes Dave I wouldn’t have missed my short spell in the forces and I was lucky to travel
a large chunk of the Far East as well, the hard part was getting demobbed I would’ve
become a regular if I wasn’t getting married,it took a few months to settle down to
civilian life and of course being not yet 21 I had to return to the pits until I could drive
lorries for a living.
thanks harry, long retired.
I like to think that I would have been OK in the forces Harry. I’ve been in far worse situations, such as spending nine and a half months in hospital. I coped with that OK, so the army would have been a good thing to broaden my horizons and instill some discipline into me.
Cheers Dave.
rdun:
did a spell at hilltop pit on top not down the mine.also did sum work with my wheel flat for fred temppelys trips to newton abbey
hiya,’
Snap Rdun it was Hilltop colliery whereI worked from 51 to 54 then 56 to 57 and Fred Temperley’s
“Top Shop” was the yard I did a week or so at until I got called up, Hubert Tattersall a director of
Temperley’s was the one in the pipeworks,but his brother Fred worked below ground at Hilltop so
he wouldn’t have to do national service but was out like a shot when there was no fear of him
being called up then he was off down to the “Top Shop” where he was already a director, poor little
rich boy eh’.
thanks harry, long retired.
harry_gill:
rdun:
did a spell at hilltop pit on top not down the mine.also did sum work with my wheel flat for fred temppelys trips to newton abbeyhiya,’
Snap Rdun it was Hilltop colliery whereI worked from 51 to 54 then 56 to 57 and Fred Temperley’s
“Top Shop” was the yard I did a week or so at until I got called up, Hubert Tattersall a director of
Temperley’s was the one in the pipeworks,but his brother Fred worked below ground at Hilltop so
he wouldn’t have to do national service but was out like a shot when there was no fear of him
being called up then he was off down to the “Top Shop” where he was already a director, poor little
rich boy eh’.
thanks harry, long retired.
There was a lot of blokes around this area Harry who worked on farms, as it was a reserved occupation. As soon as national service ended they moved onto other jobs. Apparently the same thing happened in wartime.
Cheers Dave.
Welsh Dave stand up straight, and get your bloody hair cut,it’s so long I am tripping over it! You might be your mummy’s boy, but for the next six weeks. You are all mine!
Dave the Renegade:
harry_gill:
rdun:
did a spell at hilltop pit on top not down the mine.also did sum work with my wheel flat for fred temppelys trips to newton abbeyhiya,’
Snap Rdun it was Hilltop colliery whereI worked from 51 to 54 then 56 to 57 and Fred Temperley’s
“Top Shop” was the yard I did a week or so at until I got called up, Hubert Tattersall a director of
Temperley’s was the one in the pipeworks,but his brother Fred worked below ground at Hilltop so
he wouldn’t have to do national service but was out like a shot when there was no fear of him
being called up then he was off down to the “Top Shop” where he was already a director, poor little
rich boy eh’.
thanks harry, long retired.There was a lot of blokes around this area Harry who worked on farms, as it was a reserved occupation. As soon as national service ended they moved onto other jobs. Apparently the same thing happened in wartime.
Cheers Dave.
hiya,
Dave i don’t hold any disrespect for anyone who dodged the army they
wouldn’t have made good soldiers if they can’t bear to be away from a
home life what good would they be in a foreign country for a couple of
years with no home leave in fact very little leave,if they couldn’t face it
and had an escape route why not ■■ there was one or two like it in my
regiment and proper “weary Willies” they were too, I was lucky I loved it
and given the chance as a young man would have gone back and done it
all over again.
thanks harry, long retired.
harry_gill:
Dave the Renegade:
harry_gill:
rdun:
did a spell at hilltop pit on top not down the mine.also did sum work with my wheel flat for fred temppelys trips to newton abbeyhiya,’
Snap Rdun it was Hilltop colliery whereI worked from 51 to 54 then 56 to 57 and Fred Temperley’s
“Top Shop” was the yard I did a week or so at until I got called up, Hubert Tattersall a director of
Temperley’s was the one in the pipeworks,but his brother Fred worked below ground at Hilltop so
he wouldn’t have to do national service but was out like a shot when there was no fear of him
being called up then he was off down to the “Top Shop” where he was already a director, poor little
rich boy eh’.
thanks harry, long retired.There was a lot of blokes around this area Harry who worked on farms, as it was a reserved occupation. As soon as national service ended they moved onto other jobs. Apparently the same thing happened in wartime.
Cheers Dave.hiya,
Dave i don’t hold any disrespect for anyone who dodged the army they
wouldn’t have made good soldiers if they can’t bear to be away from a
home life what good would they be in a foreign country for a couple of
years with no home leave in fact very little leave,if they couldn’t face it
and had an escape route why not ■■ there was one or two like it in my
regiment and proper “weary Willies” they were too, I was lucky I loved it
and given the chance as a young man would have gone back and done it
all over again.
thanks harry, long retired.
Hi Harry,
When I was a teenager in the 1960’s and working for a fairly large local building firm. There was several blokes that had served in the forces in WW2 on the firm. They used to giving the blokes that had previously worked on farms some serious stick. Others would get called conchies because they had been conscious objectors. It was quite entertaining at times.
I was alright as I was a youngster and my Dad had served in the army during wartime.
Cheers Dave.
Harry,I must have followed you around. I left Hilltop & went to work for Bennets in Bacup for 2 weeks, bored stiff carrying rolls of Duralay to Stacksteads four or five loads a day. Re: Thomas Temperleys. They sold out to Hepworth iron company as did the other two Temperleys. Hubert & Fred bought a farm & second-hand tractor business in Altham,last I heard of Hubert was he had topped himself by sticking his head in a plastic bag at Hollingworth Lake. The pipeworks ended up as a maggot farm & then as a place where they recycle waste food into compost, it,s now a huge building. Ta-Ta for now
rdun:
Harry,I must have followed you around. I left Hilltop & went to work for Bennets in Bacup for 2 weeks, bored stiff carrying rolls of Duralay to Stacksteads four or five loads a day. Re: Thomas Temperleys. They sold out to Hepworth iron company as did the other two Temperleys. Hubert & Fred bought a farm & second-hand tractor business in Altham,last I heard of Hubert was he had topped himself by sticking his head in a plastic bag at Hollingworth Lake. The pipeworks ended up as a maggot farm & then as a place where they recycle waste food into compost, it,s now a huge building. Ta-Ta for now
hiya,
You certainly did follow me around “rdun” after leaving Hilltop for the last time
in 1957 (or as the lads called it "Swilltop"it was a very wet mine) I went doing a
bit of holiday relief for Stringfellow’s out Ramsbottom way then I did a week or
two for Schofield’'s at Church before * you’ve guessed it doing a week or two for
Bob Bennett at Pippin Bank Bacup I drove an ancient red Albion four wheeler on
the Helmshore to Stacksteads Duralay job, I was bored stupid then Bob got me
a start at Fearings of Burnley driving the old Octopus and trailer on nights down
to London one night back the next but that was only temporary the regular lad
was off poorly and as soon as he got back I was relegated to a four wheeler but
didn’t last long on that but did manage to teach myself artic driving so it was a
bit of extra knowledge, after Fearings I got myself a start with the BRS and was
there for several years until made redundant, after that I worked for hauliers too
numerous to mention.
thanks harry, long retired.
I’m pleased to report that thanks to PO Ferries I am restocked with malt. A drop of Bowmore (I wasn’t paying £45.99 for Ardbeg) There are no duty free prices now but it’s a bit cheaper than supermarkets. Herself wasn’t too pleased when she saw my basket…“well I’m having some Gin then”, so I bought her a G&T from the bar, that didn’t go down well at all. But I deserve my drop of malt.
She did disappear for a while on came back with a few litres, muttering dark curses at my good self. Got her a few glasses of Grimbergen (it’s a 6.5% Abbeye ale) down her neck in a village bar and all was forgotten 
You are far to generous to your wife Brian, she will take advantage of your good nature and want an ice cream now the weather is improving.
Cheers Dave.
Dave the Renegade:
You are far to generous to your wife Brian, she will take advantage of your good nature and want an ice cream now the weather is improving.
Cheers Dave.
hiya,
Dave our Brian needs chastising spoiling the women with all these luxuries
I can live with allowing them the odd half of beer but three and a G&T is
a bit much, and definitely no ice cream, they never warrant ice cream.
thanks harry, long retired.
harry_gill:
Dave the Renegade:
You are far to generous to your wife Brian, she will take advantage of your good nature and want an ice cream now the weather is improving.
Cheers Dave.hiya,
Dave our Brian needs chastising spoiling the women with all these luxuries
I can live with allowing them the odd half of beer but three and a G&T is
a bit much, and definitely no ice cream, they never warrant ice cream.
thanks harry, long retired.
You got to treat them lean and mean Harry. I can get away with typing that, as mine is down in Tenby for a week. Its a toss up between me and the dog to see who is in charge.
Cheers Dave.