Chairman of Abram, Bamfurlong And Bikershaw
My father Ernest Peter Houghton was chairman of the local council 3 times. He was Labour councillor for over 30 years and was well respected in the community. During one of his terms of office in the early 1960s my mum and dad attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace. We lived in Kintbury Street, I have very fond memories of growing up there, we had great neighbours and wonderful friends, everyone looked out for everyone else then. We had great May Queen parties and we would celebrate the annual Walking Day parades, the first weekend in June was the Mission Walks with Abram parish church and then 2 weeks later it would be the turn of the Chapel Walks. We had a great day out with the Jolly Jacks going to Southport or Blackpool for the day on double-decker buses, lots of them in convoy, all with our little name tags on. My dad was a miner at the local pit, Mains Colliery, until it closed.
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RE: RE: Chairman of Abram, Bamfurlong And Bikershaw
Hello to Beryl
I was very interested to read your memories of Bamfurlong. I am sure your father would have known my grandfather, Samuel Marsden, who was Sunday School Superintendent at Bamfurlong Mission, and perhaps his elder son, my uncle Fred. My grandfather died in 1946 and my uncle in 1973. I have a photo of my grandfather leading the walking day as they went past Abram Church.
Thanks again for recording your memories.
Best wishes, Mary
Comment from Mary Sayers on Wednesday, 9th September 2009.
RE: RE: Chairman of Abram, Bamfurlong And Bikershaw
My dad used to talk about Sam Marsden and I remember Fred. My dad used to be Scout Leader at the Mission and my mum was Cub Mistress, that was how they got together, and my mum and dad were one of the first ones married in the new St John's Church in Abram.
Comment from Beryl Bowker on Friday, 2nd October 2009.
RE: RE: Chairman of Abram, Bamfurlong And Bikershaw
I love my memories of Bamfurlong, I can still recall about 90% of the people's names in Kintbury Street and Mains Avenue, we had a great community. I remember with great fondness Arden Jones, Taffy as we called him. He used to take gangs of kids for great long walks in the summer hols. all with our jam butties and bottles of 'Corporation pop'. I also remember going to the Mission youth club and to the ballroom dances on a Friday night or a Saturday night social in the Mission Hall. I remember Alf Sharrat from the Mission and Jack Brindle who was also the school caretaker for a while. And of course Jack and Sheila Cleg, they were always there with a kind word and always helpful.
Comment from Beryl Bowker on Friday, 2nd October 2009.