Lodging In Lings

A Memory of Northampton.

I worked for a company called Biwater. They had a contract at Broadholme sewrage treatment works near Rushdun. I had lodgings with a family in Lings, John and Margaret Conway. John was originally from S. Wales. He worked at Avon cosmetics, Margaret worked at Tescos, Western Faval. It was like home from home. We'd sometimes go to the nearby pub for a drink, The Sportsman.
Every Wed. I go to the Crown and Cushion on the Wellingbourgh Road. Opposite the pub lived a man who worked on the same site. His name was Ken Black and he was black. I'd call him 'Shabba' he'd call me 'Shabba Taff' we had many a good laugh. My wife was staying up with me after I was taken ill. We were in town and saw Ken, I called out 'hey blackman' and my wife tore a strip off me for doing so, Ken turned to her and said "hey woman, they call me coloured, he's got grey hair, blue eyes and a white a**e" the wife soon saw the funny side.

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