Mary, Christine And Barbara's Summer Holidays.

A Memory of Gargrave.

Our grandparents, Arnold and Hilda Shea lived in Gargrave from 1935. He worked for Johnson and Johnson, I think he was an engineer. We three girls were born and lived in London. Every summer we would be put on the train at St Pancras and Grandpa would meet us at Skipton.. We loved those times and never wanted to return to London. Grandpa would take us for a drive when he finished work and we would go to various lovely places. We even climbed up Sharphaw a few times, still have photos. We went to church on Sunday in the village hall which was then opposite the co-op. Then a new hall was built. I remember Gilligans the fish shop, Billy Hird the garage owner (W S Hird & Sons). My grandparents lived opposite the garage in Skipton Road. There was a lovely cake shop owned by Mrs Knight and Miss Rook owned the wool/sewing shop. I used to do embroidery and make cakes for the Gargrave Show, I won a few prizes and still have the certificates. We enjoyed paddling in the river and often went out very early in the morning to walk in the fields, there were hares and buzzards and things we never saw in London. I remember the butchers and Donald McKell who owned the sweetshop/newagents. Lots of wonderful memories. We are all grandmothers now and have not been back for years, I expect it has changed a lot.

Mary