edworth:
Carl…There was a driver from bishop I think his name was Henderson a little skinny bloke, was always on the booze, not sure if Cec Ramsey got him set on, he use to keep booze under his bed in the luton, I saw Jimmy Testo on the list, he was a cracking lad (showman) worked in the winter then travelled the summer,going for scan etc in morning for kidney stones hope they can sortsomething out, they are horrible…Colin you mentioned about your heart operations in Freemans, I came in to see you, it was like a railway track on your chest (bloody awful), then you started telling me about breaking ribs etc to get to your heart, you must have gone through the mill.
Eddie
Good luck Eddie,
I think they can usually dissolve them now, if I am not mistaken, but until then the pain is terrible.
Years ago when we were at green Lane dad was taken into hospital with a suspected heart attack. He went into Dryburn, and they were doing nothing. When I went into see him, he said he was sure he was dyeing and said he wanted to die at home. At the time he was living at Blaidwood Drive Farewell Hall, and I rang the consultant and asked him what they were doing? He said, he had just come back from his holidays and didn’t know. Full of apologies he said he would find out and ring me back, which he did, saying that they were doing tests As he lived so near to the hospital I asked could I not take him home and I would run him in as an outpatient for the tests and if he needed he could be re admitted if the required. I went to pick him up and too him home, calling in Durham at his doctors to drop off the envelope the hospital used to give you for the doctor.
Putting him into bed I stayed to have a cup of tea before going back to work at Green Lane, suddenly I heard this terrible cry from dad. I went in and I thought he was on his last legs and thought. ‘What have I done’ by bringing him home. Fortunately, just then the doorbell went and it was Dir. Mainee, dad’s doctor. Taking one look he said I know what’s the problem ‘He has Gall Stones.
Within a week dad had his Gall bladder removed and was back at work, temper and all. Until he died his medical records showed he had a heart attack as Dryburn wouldn’t admit they were wrong.
I am so sorry; Eddie to hear you are suffering, but once they have got you sorted you will soon feel like you are a new man.
I remember well the driver who had the drink problem, but I too cannot remember his name. His breath always smelt of alcohol, and everyone told us he was drinking all day long, but we couldn’t prove it and worse still our insurers warned us that should he have an accident and was drunk our insurance was null and void. But with unfair dismissal without proof our hands were tied. So dad used his contacts within the police force and had him breathaised. He was drunk and immediately sacked.
I remember jimmy Testo, a real character and a lovely bloke. I used to call each year to see him at the Town Moor. He was, I think the only side show with gaming machines using the old pre decimalisation pennies. He used to change them from new currency for his punters. He was always bright and cheerful, and from a real show family from several generations. Then one year I went and I couldn’t find him. When I asked I was told he had died a few weeks earlier. He was only in his mid-forties. They say only the good die young, so really I should outlive Methuselah.
Best wishes and hope you are soon well again
Carl
