Thursday, June 07, 2007

Huddersfield Old Haunts May 2007

Since one of my sons & one of Judith's sons were both keen to re-visit their mothers' old haunts, their mothers needed no encouragement! So off we set to visit the delights of Huddersfield. I had forgotten how hardy we were. The old Penine wind struck with ferocity & Sam was heard to comment " he couldn't live here".
We went up to see the old house, reminisce about Rick's school & the visit of Princess Margaret in the 60's, then saw our junior school, a beautiful building but now a rather uncared for looking nursing home. My secondary school, Greenhead, is looking better preserved being a 6th form college now.
The library brought back many memories of kicking library shelves whilst our parents chose books and records. Judith pointed out the paintings of Alison Napier's father Adrian which had enraptured me as a child pictures of local villages pretending to fish the moon out of the pond.
We had a look at the Parish Church where we were both christened & confirmed. Dad used to wait outside & read the paper as I recall & we would regale him of stories of Rick and his frequent habit of fainting during the long hymns, made quite a diversion!!!

My other desire was to re-visit "Dalton Grange"which had been a magical place as a child. It was where the ICI Christmas parties were held & where as a small child I was invited to the afternoon party but also got to go to the evening party which my brother & sister were attending. I recall being handed over a room full of diners to the waiting care of my big sister. I felt very important!!!! Judith remembers that these parties were for the children of the graduate & manager employees of ICI. We also had another party for all the workers children at the local cinema where we watched films & were given a selection box of chocolates.

No wonder my mother loved ICI, especially the silver candlesticks given to my father for all his labours.
After this we drove over to Elland to see Judith's small but exclusive private school "Grace Ramsdens", now a kindergarten. A short drive away is the cemetery where Dad was taken & where Mum's ashes have been spread. We decided she would not be pleased with the abundance of plastic flowers around but thankful she is facing away from them.

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