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Hello I’m Doug 2nd eldest of 10 and by far the better looking (at
least up to now) Born on the 5th March
1947 at St. Catherine's hospital in Birkenhead, then living at 197 Sea Bank
Road Wallasey. I don’t recall a
great lot about Wallasey, except I seem to remember going with my mother
to New Brighton beach and collecting
cockles or some sort of mollusc. We carried them home in bags and put them in
a pan of boiling water this I understood was to open them and then I assume
we ate them. Apart from that I don’t seem to have any other
recollections.
From Wallasey we moved to Ormskirk in
1951 by this time we had increased the family by another 2 making a family of
4 with Marilyn and Jacqueline. On arrival in Ormskirk
I do remember walking down Whittle Drive and seeing a
couple of young lads of which we became all good friends.
Billy Dickinson, Paul MacDonald, Wilfred McCrae and last but
not least Geoff Webster.
The family increased again over the following years with Dorothy,
Eric, John, Edward, Sandra and Graham. At this stage with coming from a large
family I must give Mum and Dad full credit for bringing us all up as a
disciplined and meaning full family. All in good health fed with good meals
and presented well.
The family started with Colin 63 years ago and finally with Graham 45
years ago spanning over 18 years, we are still in touch when necessary, and
on social occasions. Another nice memory of the family is that
when Dad took us to the Ormskirk annual fete, which
then was on Green Lane playing fields.
At one of the stalls we won some bone china crinoline ladies but just
could not win the final figure making a full set. After trying so hard with
no success we left for home. On arrival there, to our surprise dad gave me
some money to go back and buy the last one, which was an option those days
making a full set. Over the years they got broke and were repaired of a
fashion using just household glue. The outcome of this short story is
to say that I am pleased that I have still got the last
surviving figure, somewhat battered and repaired.
It was a housing estate with rural surroundings
agricultural fields to the rear were dad was working on the farm of
George Gittens. Of this we were allowed
to go and help whenever we could ( School hols and weekend etc.) slopping out
the pigs, collecting hen eggs, smaller jobs around the farm and most
enjoyable helping with the harvest
There was an old meadow to the front and right
of our house which was an excellent adventure playground. There was an old
pond in the meadow where we could go fishing, catching newts and making
rafts, needless to say every time we made a raft we always ended up getting
soaking wet through. We knew the error of our ways when we got home.
Also in the pond were reeds which we used to plat and weave making
various things but mostly small whips but don’t remember what we did
with them. There was a lot more adventures with other people
and friends who also will not be forgotten. It was a good atmosphere on the
estate everybody seemed to know everybody else and it was not uncommon
to have street parties especially on special occasions like the coronation in
1953 etc. Other than that, there were organised coach trips which I
think mum and dad paid into a club on a regular basis and
accumulated a small kitty, I think it was generally known as the Scott
Estate club. I am pretty sure that the organisers of this club
were Jock Whithers and Alec Baird and maybe
one or two others which both and any others concerned deserve full
credit. We would go on various trips to places typically like Blackpool and Morecombe by
coach and would have a pomegranate to tuck into using a little
needle to pick out the seeds and eating them one by one. In addition to
that there would be a sing song of family melodies like 10 green
bottles standing on the wall, and others. Other than that I
started school at Greetby Hill infant’s
school in 1951/2 shortly after it had opened and onto the junior section
after that. I was never going to be an academic, I never took my
11 plus exam for entrance to the Grammar school and went straight onto
the Secondary school at Wigan Road which in those day’s was
boy’s only, where we were educated for more manual work.
I quite enjoyed my school life although it seemed some times go
on for an eternity. In the final years I achieved status as woodwork
monitor where we were supposed to check the tools were safe and
sharp, sharpen if required for use during that particular day. I also
got a position in the school football team as defender although the
position used to alternate between myself and another friend Ian
McKenzie. Leaving school back in 1962 on my brother Colin’s 21st
birthday, Friday 13th April, lucky for some. (those traffic lights are
still on red when I get to them) I got a start in a factory in Burscough as an apprentice electrical engineer only to
find that, with the sun blazing through the roof lights it was not for me,
thankfully I realised that I was more of an out of doors worker.
After-which by 2 months I got another apprenticeship, this time as
a heating engineer which suited me to the ground. During my
apprenticeship I had the opportunity temporally to go onto
servicing oil burners for the boilers in hospitals and schools, after
which back to general central heating. During my apprenticeship or
shortly after I achieved my welding credits of which were
of oxy-acetylene gas and electric arc stick welding.
On July 27th 1968 I married
Gladys after a long courtship of approx. 6 years with small breaks
in between. We went into living in a flat in the centre of Ormskirk for another 6 years before buying our
present property in Aughton which was back in 1974,
we are both quite satisfied with our little castle ( bungalow really )
as we have adjusted by means of extensions to suit ourselves. It was
far enough to be away from, but close enough if required for both
of our parents who all lived in Ormskirk. By
the time I have changed my employer several times working on oil
refineries to nuclear power station interrupted with the Royal and Sun
Alliance buildings and renovation of the Liver Buildings etc. etc. in
Liverpool. Otherwise not a lot happened we enjoyed ourselves
going out regular to various places often in company. Then in 1979 along came
Paul, our son. Since then still in the same humble dwelling and
with still no intention of moving in January of 1988 I went self employed in
the Plumbing and Central Heating business of which I have no
regrets. Hobbies generally consist of anything that I can
make with my hands and am currently making a 6ft x 3ft refractory
table out of reclaimed timber, pottering around the garden
and going to theatre.
Yes I’m still second in a family of ten and still as good
looking as ever, no one has over taken me YET. I finished off the last
profile saying that I was building a refractory table out of mostly reclaimed
timber and yes it was finished and have since made a second one for my son
Paul both of us are more than pleased with the end result. We have also made
other pieces of furniture out of reclaimed timber i.e. mirror frame out of
what used to be Southport pier timber and have also laid the hall floor in
it. Other frames out of drift wood from the water front where the blitz ruins
were left at Crosby.
Nothing much has changed, other than the obvious; I am getting a
little older although I don’t (hopefully) look it.
I’m still self-employed with over 21years experience, not a
great deal longer to go, perhaps I’ll just wind down slowly, I’m
probably already doing so but not realising it. I still go out on
Friday’s generally around Ormskirk meeting
various groups of people not knowing until I get there who, I do go a little
further on occasions with Gladys.
Paul has now turned 30. At his birthday celebrations we had a fancy
dress party, dressed as gangsters and molls at Café Matisse in Southport. The first time
for most of us, we dressed up for the occasion. It went down really well.
We had another fancy dress party at Dorothy’s house over this
New Year 2010, based on a murder mystery adventure on a cruise liner, I think
all of us did ourselves proud and we did have a laugh. I barely recognised
Jacqueline when I arrived. Everyone really looked the part and everyone
enjoyed the evening. Nothing to report about any influx into our section of
the family but everything comes to those that wait. Gladys and I celebrated
our 40th anniversary back in July 2008 and again all of the family
met apart from our Edward. Paul super imposed a recent photo of him on a new
family photo, which was taken virtually to within the hour if not within
minutes of the same day 40 years previously at our wedding in 1968. We are
now approaching our 42nd anniversary in a couple of months, I believe you can get out of jail after 15 years
for murder I understand. We are still in the same castle (little bungalow)
since 1974 and still happy not to move, nothing much else to report, I built
a larger BBQ with a tall chimney similar to Paul’s which he recons I
copied, well, he did have one first. We think we’ll be having a few
BBQ’s this year weather permitting; this will be a chance for the
family to meet again. I still got the same motor I’m not one for
changing for a new model, I’ve had it for approx. 9 years now but it is
ready for change. We still go to theatre not as often but will soon remedy
that when we get into the spirit again. We are really happy with Paul, he is
fortunate to have a secure job as IT manager and a nice girlfriend Kelly. He
has amongst other things bought himself a micro light (a small flying thing).
He had flying lessons and is currently taking his test for his pilot’s
licence. A few of us are looking forward to going up with him including me,
so put your names forward he won’t mind.
I’ll perhaps catch up again in a couple of years if I’m
still here.
All the best to those who know us and those that read the family page
and wish you all a healthy and trouble free life.
C U 10-4.
Doug
Homepage: www.aughtonplumbingandheating.com
Updated 19th January 2010.
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