close to a very tall hedge in this field, Dad, Mother, Stan and me when this horse suddenly charged across the field towards us. We were terrified, but my Dad shouted: "Get close to the hedge," and he faced the oncoming animal. When it was about 15 yards away he threw his arms up into the air, jumped up and roared at it . It stopped in its tracks, turned round, and cantered off across the field, ignoring us.

One day, when Stan and I were quite young, Mum sent us to Irwins, a Grocer's shop at the corner of our street. The assistant, Joe, knew us and we had been sent for half a pound of split peas ( Lentils). Joe said to Stan "What do you want son ." Stan replied, "Half a pound of spit, please." This reply brought roars of laughter from Joe.

Just then another kind of roar was heard and everybody dashed outside the shop, and there, in the sky was this enormous Airship, appearing to almost be touching the roofs of the houses . It was the ill-fated R100 !

When it was wet, Stan and I used to spend time playing in the cellar. On one occasion I built a model theatre with puppets. We invited some of the local children into our back yard to see the theatre and the puppets, I'm afraid I can't remember whether we got boos or a standing ovation ! Another incident occured shortly after Stan had joined a local Boys Brigade Unit. He had been given a trumpet to learn to play, anyway, after he had been trying to play for a while I asked to have a go. He refused, and the next thing I'd landed him one in the trumpet and he lost one of his front teeth . He still remembers it, and that's 60 years on ! We used to have a lot of snow in the winter when we were young, and on one occasion my Dad managed to make us a sledge . We took it to Sefton Park to a place known locally as ' The monkey rack ' where there was a steep hill. There were loads of kids going up and down that hill on everything imaginable - from bin lids to the poshest of sledges and no-one held you up at knife point to steal your sledge or some bent adult try to whisk you off, to have his way with you, and then, do away with you !

We had friends, the Aitkens, who lived in Harrowby Street, the other side of Granby Street . There were two lads, Tom and George . They had a cricket bat and a set of wickets made out of broken Billiard cues. Of an evening Mr. Aitken, Tom, George, my Dad, Stan and myself would all walk about 3 miles to Sefton Park Cricket field and set up our pitch . We'd play for two or three hours, then walk back home all tired out but having had a jolly good evening's fun and exercise. I'm sure my Dad enjoyed it because at this time he was unemployed and I'm sure it took his mind off his financial state and he could have a laugh and talk with Mr. Aitken.
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