The Old Days

A Memory of Normanton.

Hi, I am Linda Atkinson, nee Halford,
I was brought up on the Gypsy Lane estate, attending Woodhouse Junior school and remember the carnivals/parades held on the village green. My best friends were Nancy and Maria Churms, and Lynne Ramsey. A whole gang of us used to play out on the Green or in the street, kick can, rounders, whip and top, hide and seek, or just skipping. We would stay out from morning until our parents called us in for the night.
I remember going to the bluebell woods in summer, and the Hilly Fields in winter to ride down the hill in the snow on pieces of old tin from Granma's hearth, and going home frozen to the core and wet through but had loads of fun.
The town had its own characters, Milly with her whip and top who always told you she "liked you", and Amos who used to dress up in a cape like Batman. and I also recall a man who's name has slipped from my memory, but he always walked an Alsatian dog and he was a very famous boxer, (maybe Billy someone) but unfortunately his success came at a price and they said he was 'punch drunk" due to being involved in the sport too long.

My dad used to take me on walks as a youngster to the top of the Hilly fields to what used to be Red Fox Lane, when it was just a dirt track, we would look for the first spring flowers while he told me stories of stagecoach robberies and highway men from the olden days, and then we would go through to Old Snydale to the Cross Keys Public House for a bottle of pop and a bag of crisps (plain cos thats all there was). A quick play on the swings in the garden, and then catch the bus to Featherstone to visit my Grandparents for tea.

My family moved to Cedar Road in 1961, when I also moved to Normanton secondary school until 1965.

Happy memories of school, with friends, in order or remembrance not importance. Linda Abbott, Susan Fearnley (Hodgson), Anne Wadely ( Smith) Kathleen Fairhurst ( Blakeway), Stephen Hearse, Joan Hammond, Sheila Moss, Carol Clarke, Alan Stuckey, Tony Codner, Jennifer Gray, John Heald, and loads of characters David Fragely, Paul Atkinson, Bernard Gray, Chuck Spink, Stuart Carlton, & Graham Blakeway..

I remember the Fair at Normanton down in the town, a regular hangout and somewhere to go. I often hear the Righteous Brothers singing ' You never close your eyes anymore" and straight away it takes me back to 1964/5 and the Waltzers.

I moved to New Zealand in 1970 and have lived here ever since, but Normanton will always be home and in my heart. I dare say it has changed somewhat.. I will be making a quick visit this year so I guess I will see. You can take the girl out of Normanton, but you can't take Normanton out of the girl.... somewhat of a misnomer now as not too far off retirement age.

If anyone knows of anyone mentioned here, I would love an update on where they are and what they are doing..

I wish, more folk would post on this site, its lovely to reminisce.