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I
was born on October 29th 1942 in Stoke-on-Trent - a city
of terraced-houses, factories & coal mines, pot-banks withbottle-
shaped chimneys and, in those days, lots of smoke.
Not so different from Huddersgate really. |
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This
is Stoke where I was brought up |
And
this is Huddersgate
where the Stanley Bagshaw stories are set |
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This
photo was taken in the 1920's
but it was still pretty smokey when I was a lad.
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I
was luckier than most however. Our house was on the outskirts
of the city. There were woods and fields nearby, and this
was where I spent most of my time.
I was happy at home - but my Gran's house was much more
interesting.
Gran lived not far away in an old wooden bungalow on the
edge ofthe common. She
kept chickens and pigs, and boiled her potatoes in a big
black pot on the open fire. |
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Gran's
bungalow |
Me
& my Gran |
Stan
and his Gran |
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I
hardly ever saw my Grandad; he was always 'down the finney gardens'.
At the time I thought he must be a hard working gardener.
But like Stanley, I was a bit naive.
'Finney Gardens' was the name of the local pub. |
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BACK
TO TOP |
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