Memories From My Younger Years In Durham City

A Memory of Durham.

I was born in Hallgarth Street in 1935 and christened in St. Oswalds Church along with my older sister Dorothy and all the Fox's. dads family were eight children all living in Hallgarth Street, Whinney Hill, New Elvet. James Henry Fox, Dads oldest brother I didn't meet. He died at the Somme on 1st July 1916 aged 19, no known grave. My Uncles' name is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial of the missing on the Somme. My wish is to be taken there to express my thoughts.

Dad had a cousin, also called James Henry Fox who fought in the trenches near Armentieres and in 1915 he came down with severe frostbite and was invalided home, where he dies from pneumonia aged 32. Both names are on the First World War Memorial at St. Oswalds Churchyard. I visited the Stockton Road Cemetery to see James' grave and met two ladies from the Church and student volunteers working on the graves, very nice to speak to them, and discovered both ladies live in Hallgarth Street!

More memories of my younger years are Dad walking my sister Dorothy and I to Houghall Wood many times, putting me on his shoulders hoping to see more. Gathering a small bunch of blue bells for Mum, wonderful Mum, always there. I wanted to copy what Mum did, sewing, cooking, housework and knitting. I remember having small knitting needles and sweeping brush and rolling pin, I tried to copy and Mum was pleased. She would give Dorothy and I half a penny for a chocolate bar from a little shop quite close, Dorothy was in charge, off we went to the shop. When Mum was able to sit down her knitting was always by her side. She would knit jumpers and skirts in different colours for Dorothy and I. Mum had a part-time job at the Cathedral and sometimes my sister and I would walk there to meet her, it was safer in those days for children to be out on their own, people looked after each other. One day Dorothy wanted to take me to see St. Oswalds Infant School where I would be going when I was old enough. We went through the pathway to Church Street from Hallgarth Street to see where the School was. From Church Street pathway over the Kingsgate footbridge to the Cathedral. Mum was finished her work and walked us home.

Durham Miners Gala Day
Miners proudly marched into the City, brass band playing, men carrying their banners. Dorothy and I were lucky to be able to watch looking out from our upstairs window. They congregated for picnics and entertainment on the old racecourse site - a great day!

Happy memories ended in 1939 - the 2nd World War started. The miners were asked to move to Dewsbury to work. All the Fox's moved, Dads two brothers and three sisters with hundreds of miners. In 1940 my brother Keith was born disabled and Mum was unwell, they decided to move back to Durham and settled in Easington Colliery, County Durham.

Years passed and I moved away. I visit Durham when I can. My memories of Durham City, particularly my younger years, make me feel alive.

Lilian Hirons (Fox), Rugby, Warks.