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Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, February 23, 1962
Profile by Brian Edwards MR. JAMES H. W. FISHWICK
T LOOKED at the gnarled old A hands, over which a million bees and wasps hays crawled, as he told me about the days when “he wor a lad”, and, still looking at the hands, I sUppedback with him into a different world, a world of enthus iasm, of love of nature, and
of “fettlin’.”
I was talking to Mr. J. H. W. Fishwick, or Dalesman Jim
as he is equally well and for a few hours X left
the world of motor cars and machinery, strikes and El- bombs. and went back to those halcyon days when there was time to stand and cfare time to be & cratts man time to enjoy life as we
were meant to enjoy it.
Rom into a Victorian world of horse-drawn traffic and television, Jim Fishwick has
for soon he was selling honey on Blackburn and Accrington Markets, and
even sending samples to Australia.
“Get Jim Fishwick”, folk used to say when there was a swarm of bees, or a danger ous wasps’ nest. And Jim was always ready to oblige his iron nerve allowing him to push his hands right into the centre of the swarm An ordinary man could easilv have been stung to death by the very same swarm.
For a time he made his living out of bees, being occupied full-time at his apiary at Chatburn, but for the greater part of his life he has worked in the mills and on the railway.
At one time he used to work at Barnoldswick, starting
work at 6 a.m. This meant he had to get out of bed at 3-30 and walk nine miles in the dark—108 miles per week, about 24 hours’ walk ing time. His pay as a weaver was 24s. a week.
You won’t find many young sters who will do that now adays”, he says. And he’s right.
with a minimum of seams at a, most reasonauie co*i. give you an estimate without obligation.
MAIN COMPLAINT isiiiiir From 39/6 so. yd. Tufted Carpet from 22/G sn. yd. W a l t s L t d ,
58 Whallev Road — or — 31 Castle St. Tel.: 136.' CLITHEROE
Tel.: 136.
spent all his life within the lovely confines of Ribbles- dale and Bowland.
s. W. ALLEN, F.B.O.A. (HONS.) OPHTHALMIC OPTICIAN
CONTACT LENS PRACTITIONER
No man knows more about the history of the region, no- one better appreciates its beauty, and no-one knows more about its plant and animal life.
Telephone: Ciifheroo I 176.
5. MARKET PLACE, CLITHEROE.
He sat in his armchair in his snug little cottage in Down- ham Road, Chatburn. with Pendle on his left hand and the fells of Bowland on his right, and reminisced of
days gone by.
I thought I knew the district fairly well, but he described to me a land where every
to the student.
field has a history, every house its tale to tell, and even the meanest blade of grass something of interest
Folk thought he was daft when, as a young lad, he started to inquire into the history of the district he was to know so well,, but people soon became accus tomed to Jim turning up with a bit of fossil, or a rare plant.
RADIATED HAPPINESS
They thought it strange that while they were playing football and cricket, he should be wandering off round hedges and dykes, coming home muddy and tired. But they could not fail to see the happiness that radiated from him when he returned from his
rambles.
save 5° SPAR flour plain & S.R.
vxi 1/6
only 2/4 SPAR stewed steak
save 4“ Hartley’s strawberry jam
save 2 Macdonald’s Penguins
save 3d Kraft Dalrylea
1/61/-
save 41 Plumrose chopped ham
!/:
puddings 1/6 1/4
save 3d
Australian sultanas
1/6 1/3
save 1 Haven pancake mix
9 f 81“ I f 4 for 10° 1/6 11
save 4 Brillo soap pads “
only 111“
SPAR garden peas
save 7“ ‘Tyne Brand’
minced beef 6/6 2/2
'I \ \ V\ LEVER’S BATTERY ‘PELLETS’ t
Wise woman, M um - surprises family all
the time—no tirod wif© look about M um -
always smiling—always something new to eat.
Family astonished Mum knowing-new
electric cooker °oks aftpr the meals. Set it
and forget if says Mum la n d off to get the
other work done. Mum’s an even better
cook now thanks to e l e c t i ’ i c cooking.
And
SPIT-ROASTING too —if you want it.
A modern ELECTRIC KETTLE gives you
the fastest way of boiling water and
leaves the top of your cooker free for pans.
• A Modern electric,cooker from €30.0.0 or pn.easy terms ,, , a t y o u r
ELECTRICITY SERVICE CENTRE > - >
The AUTOTIMER that co o k s a meal for you.
Faster-than-ever RINGS or PLATES—
from boil to simmer at a fingertip touch.
The fast, full-width even browning
^ e l e c t r i c g r i l l .
' jF s d& ln i jo o o - OL-P c o o k e r
F=OK> J CaFS more'
And there was a practical side to his apparently aimless excursions. He knew where the best nuts grew, the fattest fish swam the largest mushrooms hid, and knew where the rabbits
were most plentiful.
He turned his nature study into hard cash when he became interested in bees,
* *
That is his main complaint about young people today. They want too much doing for them. Instead of kick ing a football around on Saturday afternoons, they go to watch others play at Burnley or Blackburn.
Always a great one for “fettlin’” Jim still mends his own shoes, and even makes his own window curtains. “I never buy owt that I can make myself”, he says.
The “Advertiser and Times” has, of course, been his main medium for his studies of history, nature, folk-lore and geology, and thousands of people have read and enjoyed his articles.
He writes with a proficiency and understanding unusual
in a man who left school at an early age, and make history very readable.
He is well-known as a natur alist and historian far be yond his native district, and back in the infancy of movie-films was one of the first men in Lancashire to take part in the movie photography of wild birds,
at Ravenglass.
True happiness appears in many disguises, and I think Jim has lifted more than one of the masks.
To sit on a stone wall on a cl ear ,
modern lives.
fells of Bowland with an appreciative eye, or to watcn the trout rise in the Ribble is worth more to him than the mode sophisticated pleasures which crowd our
WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE
To gaze over the broad acres of Lancashire and Yorkshire from the Big End of Pendle, when the wind whistles through the bent and the curlew sigh their plaintive song, far above the smoke and grime of East Lanca shire is, to him, a wonderful experience, one that brings great tranquility and a sense of well-being.
One cannot be a countryman without becoming some thing of a philosopher, and
surveying the trees and ' IIThis was only for six months ,thecause he was again made
frosty morning,
most farmers can quote epithets of the “there’s nowt so queer as folk” variety. But Jim has taken his philoso phy a step further. He has applied it to everyday life, reading, marking, learning and inwardly digesting from the book of human en deavour.
I could fill a book about the life of Dalesman Jim, fend interesting reading it would
make.
Those gnarled old hands I spoke of have fashioned first-rate fishing rods, lifted heavy loads on the railway, cracked many a sparring- partner in the days when boxing was popular in the villages and wielded a pretty useful cricket bat.
They have worked precision cameras, turned the pages of long-forgotten deeds and maps, written many thous ands of words, some of which have found a place in Oxford’s Bodleian Library, and gently nursed hack to life some injured creature.
They have pointed an accus ing finger at
responsible for abusing the countryside, and they have warmly extended them selves in congratulation for any worthwhile effort made by anyone, young or old.
t h o s e
They are honest hands, the hands of Jim Fishwick, and now, like the man, they are gnarled with honour and dignity.
There are many nowadays who dispute that the best things in life are free.
To convince them that they are wrong I could do no better than to refer them to Dalesman Jim.
gifts m a r k
-A and scarf were presented at the C.P.A. Whalley Abbey Works, Barrow, on Tuesday morning to Mr. Andrew Dewhurst, of 39 The Crescent, Clitheroe, who retired on January 29th after nearly 50 years with the company.
RETIREMENT 4 CHEQUE and a cardigan
wMr. Dewhurst, who is- 74,
mixer for many years, but from 1947 until his retirement he was a night watchman.
as employed as a colour
in 1898 and came back in 1922 after serving in the First
ant when the .works closed, .returning again in 1935.
World War from 1914. In 1931, he became redund
1 SLiundant in September that 1 year. Mr. Dewhurst returned in
1941 and was employed at C.P.A. until his retirement.
manager, presented M r. Dewhurst with a cheque and he received a cardigan and scarf from the Sports and Social Club.
Mr. J. Tattersall, the works
^ social evening and buffet supper organised by the Sports and Social Club of I.C.I. Ltd., Clitlieroe, at the Station Hotel on
music for dancing was provided by Oddie's Band, of Blackburn.
Friday night. Mr. J. Walker was M.C. and
ABOUT 50 people attended a He began working for C.P.A.
Two men praised for public-spirited action
TATHEN Mr. George Barker, ’ 7 of Whalley Road, Clith
saw two men pushing a car from land near Primrose Garage.
eroe, looked out of his window at midnight on Saturday he
at Clitheroe on Monday, said the two men were arrested after Mr. Barker had informed the police, and added that the police had been greatly assist ed by the public-spirited action of Mr. Barker and Mr. Derek Nuttall, a director of the garage who went to the scene.
Insp. W. Taylor, stating this
21, a radio engineer of Crom well Street, Burnley, and Peter Topping, aged 21, a brass worker, of Pager Street, Burnley, were each fined £4 for stealing two car keys. £3 for taking and driving away a car and £2. for using the car while uninsured.
The men, John Coates, aged
of taking and driving away the car was rather technical, as the men had only pushed the car, but under such circum stances that amounted to driving it.
Insp. Taylor said the charge KEYS FROM VAN
two keys from a van which they had been unable to start and had used them to gain access to the car, owned by Mr. Duncan Niven, which they had pushed away.
He said the men had taken
P.C. Alan Gaunt, the men were very co-operative and immediately admitted com plicity.
After they were arrested by Senior Public
they had missed the last bus home and had had too much to drink, otherwise the thought of taking a car would never have entered their heads.
Coates toid the court that
told the men that the fact that they were previously of good character, and had assisted the police, had stood them in good stead, but that did not alter the fact that these were extremely serious offences.
Mrs. W. Bowman, presiding,
Civic heads at lice ball
rriHE Mayor and Mayoress, * Coun. and Mrs. W.
Sharpies, were among the guests at Ciitheroe police ball at the Swan and Royal Hotel on Friday.
Insp. C. N. Salthouse. Insp. T. Atherton and Dr. Macdonald, police surgeon. Messrs. P. Hulland and T. Briggs enter
Also present were Chief
the Ciitheroe section under the leadership of Insp. W. Taylor.
Bridge drive
■rL the ladies’ fund of Clith eroe Golf Club at a bridge drive in the clubhouse last week.
A BOUT £7 was raised for
winners being 1, Mr. W. L. Wilkinson and Mrs. Mellon; 2, Mrs. A. V. Britnell and
There were 14 tables, partner.
tained. Arrangements were made by
Health Inspector retiring
A FTER more than 48 years in the Health Department at Clitheroe. 21 of them as
Se ni or Public He a l th Inspector, Mr. Edward Coates, of 45 Victoria Street, Clith eroe, retires on March 21st.
Society of Health, Mr. Coates has ' also been h o u; s 1 n g manager, being responsible for letting, repairs and main tenance of Corporation houses, for the past five years.
A member of the Royal
£500 in a competition during a salvage drive, making a catchy double-meaning slogan.
In 1951, Mr. Coates won
Coates has been associated all his life with Clitheroe Con gregational Church, where he is senior deacon.
A native of Clitheroe, Mr. A DEACON
more than 40 years and has also been a Sunday School teacher and superintendent and a choir member.
He has been a deacon for
ihe Rotary Club of Clitheroe, of which he is a former secret ary and a past president.
His other interests include
Mr. Coates saw service in France with the South Lancashire Regiment and the Monmouth Regiment Later he worked on administration at the 5th and 3rd Army Headquarters
Coates trained in Civil Defence at Es i ngwo l d, Yorkshire,
During the last war. Mr.
ing training officer and a casualty officer for Clitheroe.
gaining a certificate as a Civil Defence instructor and becom
Be an evert better cook w i t h a
e l e c t r i c c o o k e r During the First World War,
THIS WAS NEWS
25 YEARS AGO February 26th, 1937
TT had been suggested by a A high authority that if a list of towns where progress had been made electrically
rpHE REV. I. PUGH, Vicar of J- st. Paul’s, Low Moor, rec eived a cheque for £25 to obtain a new set of Com munion vessels. The donor wished to remain anonymous. *
*
were published, Clitheroe would head the country; said Mr. A. H. Todd, Clitheroe’s electrical engineer, speaking to mem bers of Clitheroe Chamber of Trade.
* * *
of Oddfellows, Brother Isaac N. Carus, who had recently resigned his position as secret ary was presented with a gold hunter watch by Brother C. W. Dawson, a past grand master. #
AT the monthly meeting of the Limestone Rock Lodge
* *
T\R. GUY ROBERTSON was appointed by Lancashire
Mental Hospitals Board to succeed Dr. F. A. Gill as superintendent of Calder- stones Hospital. Dr. Robert son had been deputy superin tendent at the hospital for about three years.
resolution was carried In com mittee that special expenses In the area should be pooled among the various parishes. The resolution was forwarded to the Ministry of Health for approval.
*
nr*HE REV. W. G. JONES, x Vicar of St. Mary Magdalen’s, Ac c r i n g t o n , notified acceptance of the living of St. Helen’s Wadding-
ton. * * *
TJOTARIAN J. T. HEADON, of Manchester, who had
frequently assisted the police as a handwriting expert, spoke to members of the Rotary Club of C li th er o e on caligraphy.
50 YEARS AGO March 2nd, 1912
by two fires at Sabden, the first at Victoria Mill and the second, nine days later, at the factory of Sabden Calico Printing Company. ♦
TAAMAGE estimated at more than £30,000 was caused
*
AT a meeting of Bowland Rural District Council a ■
*
TyrORE than 300 prizes and certificates were pres
ented to scholars attending local schools for excellence of written accounts of a lecture given by Mr. J. Morris on “Alcohol and Its effects on the body”.
* * *
TPOLLOWING the cotton A trade lock-out, 300 new members were enrolled by Clitheroe Weavers’, Winders and Warpers’ Association. *
* *
TT was reported to the x Lancashire Asylums Board that steps were being taken to re-let
completing the new work at the site of the new asylum at Whalley. The work had been abandoned when the contrac tors filed their petition in bankruptcy.#
the contract for * *
TPOLLOWING the resignation 1 of Mr. R. I. Robinson from Bowland Rural District Coun cil, an electibn was held at Gisburn. The candidates were Mr. H. C. Starkie and Mr. J. H. Duckworth, Mr. Starkie being
elected by 67 votes to 27. *
*
ment, presented the prizes for the half-year at the P.S.A. meeting in the Weavers’ Institute. Mr. R. D. Clegg
TI/TR. W. BARRETT, oldest member of the move
presided. iK * *
■VJRS. ELIZA BELLAMY LINGMORE, a native of
Grindleton who died at Harrogate, left £1,000 on trust, the income of which was to be applied to the augment ation of the living of Grindle
morning will be broadcast on the B.B.C. North Home Service. The service will he con
TVTATTINS — x-una,.
t'-iL Parish Church on Sunday
ton. ______________ , at Clitheroe
4
ducted by the Vicar, the Rev. A F Clark, and the preacher will be the Rev.
W.R.F.Brown- Ing, Warden of Whalley
9-45.
Abbey. The service will start at
I
18 ft!
JEW
ELLER. 6 DlAM
Ot-i
24, KING WILLI/fl BLACKBURN.
SAVE I|
Have your Old f | Covered with Coloul
ROBINSON. H E Y s f The Old l |
Lower Eanani Whrj
Why put up uneven
WHEN YOU C| ASPHALT
ALSO TAR MACA| AND LINO
Estimates Free Consul JAMES BOLT!
EANAM OLd T EANAM. BLA|
on all floor
Tel.il
Day. Blakcwal Evenings. Blakel
Na t io n a l I D e f e n c e 1
Issued by tli
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