Public Health In Grimsby.

A Memory of Grimsby.

I was a Public Health Inspector in Grimsby from 1950 to 1954 when I moved to Suffolk. I remember going to the old and new slaughterhouses to do meat inspection, working all hours and getting nothing for it ! We had to take 'overtime' as time off when it suited the boss, Harold Parkinson, NOT when it suited us ! We were busy surveying all the old houses for clearance but remember the ladies all having a rail in the hallway where they made the fishing nets. The lorry from 'Coalsalt' would deliver large coils of sweet smelling string and the women were paid by the weight of net produced. I would call on dear old Mrs. Russell to get her husband to carry out works for us and enjoy her constantly available tea ! She was the mother of 18 children but was never flustered and was the kindest person. My wife was born in Grimsby ,but we met in Gainsborough, married, moved to Grimsby, and lived in Malcolm Road until we moved here. My wife's great grandfather, Harold Doust went to Grimsby from Rye with his boat, wife and son to start fishing, ending up with 14 smacks and becoming the Admiral of the Blue Fleet.
Frank Holmes.