r L ' > .


r*‘ r


Cliilieroe Advertiser and Times, Febrnary 3rd, 1977 Q U A D S T A S ^ P S


ON ALL PURCHASES (EXCLUDING FOOD, FUEL AND SERVICES)


FERGUSON STUDIO 15 MUSIC CENTRE..........................


.....


SHARPS MUSIC CENTRE, ■5G315E.............................................


4


HITACHI SDT 2690R MUSIC CENTRE............................................


HITACHI SDT 2480R MUSIC CENTRE .................. ........... .............


%


HITACHI AUDIO STAND, GLASS TOP..........


............


1 2 .1 5 HOOVER C H E S T FREEZER £176.31...........................


it2iiio........................ :CO-OP22in. COLOUR TV


16.5 HOOVER CHEST FREEZER


£210.95 £209.95 £331.95 £222.95 £19.95


BUSH 22in. COLOUR TV.............


j.FERGUSON 12in. PORTABLE TV. . ......................................................


I :;HMV14in. PORTABLE TV........... BUSH RADIO DIGITAL


^CLOCK...............................................


£141.95 £171.95 £242.95 £249.95


£61.95 £68.95 £23.95


Electrical Dept. Moor Lane Clitheroe


Telephone 23167 UARaWCA9&~*


I WE TAKE BARCLAY AND ACCESS CARDS


§ 9o m n §


in next to no time. Your new local Agents at the address below will tell you all you need to loiow. Pop in and see them. Amd join


■the Leaders. Geoffrey Taylor &- Co.


WHEN WINTER WAS WINTER


A WEEK or two ago, we were informed that snow, frost and low temperatures had beaten all records of the last 10 or 15 years and the weathermen pronounced that we were in for a hard winter well into February.


early spring when we look back and listen to those who have faith in w’hat so many term “Old wives’ tales.” Those who ridicule such things will have to hang their heads in shame for did not the coun­ tryside signs reveal the shape of things to come?


We shall know the truth in Do you not recall the abund­


ance of berries which many people believe are an indica­ tion of a hard winter? Few can deny the disastrous effect brought about by the drifting snow' covering most of the country, reaching us in mid- January.


that thoughts went back to the winters of 1941,47 and 62. In the dreadful winter of 1947, a pile of grit at the foot of every incline was your only recourse if you began sldd- ding. You carried a spade in those days if you wanted to reach your destination.


It was therefore ineritable


Perhaps you recall, not in ancient times, but less than 30


Courtesy . . Help . . . A fair deal at .


TAPSELL & WEST feTr


you will be attended to by the owner or one of the e.xperts on the staff. HELP. Advice on colour schemes and colour matching. Ring Nelson 62816 or Skipton 2D60 — and we will arrange to bring patterns to your home.


COURTESY. This is a privately-owned Centre where


A FAIR DEAL. With over 80 years’ experience in the carpet trade we understand qualities.


Wi


A «ide choice of Broadlooms. .1 and .14 and 4 'd>^. wide. Thousands of yards of TOf’ c;RAI)K 27in. inihY CAKPKT IN ALL THE IwtTEST DKSHINS. L'nbealable pneesi. See our WILTON UANfiE. 12 modern drstxns. All widths available.


TAPSELL & WEST


57/59 SWADFORD ST SKIPTON. Tel. 2960


■ Also r ^ 2s.


89 Leeds Rd Nelson Tel: 62816 <


'


years ago when the motorist had to plough through to villages by the best means available. If you were forced to travel any distance, as a measures of safety, chains were fixed on two or four


near towns.


and the Twiston f.-irmers b ro u g h t th e i r milk to Downham, struggling across the more open fields in that region. Experiences such as these can never be erased and one farmer living at Hengyll brought his milk to Monubent Head where it was collected by lorry.


getting to Dunsop, Newton or Slaidbum when day after day these places were entirely snowbound. The Waddington- Newton road, recognised as the main artery’, was hopeless with six or eight foot drifts filling the road over consider­ able distances.


Imagine the difficulties in


through was via Chaigley and Doeford Bridge to Whiteweil. From round the Whiteweil area, free passage was at all times difficult. Even if you managed to get through, there was the fear of not being able to return. Any road could easily be filled with snow in a couple of liours if the wind increased.


The only way to break Reaching Newton was far


wheels to prevent skidding. Salting was unthought of and the roadmen were kept busy


COUistTRY DIARY


'The chains were crude by today’s standards. When you


came to a bare stretch of road or returned to town, the clat­ ter and bumping was most alarming. Snow cushioned the vibrations — its absence was a boneshaking experience to driver and car.


springs from the winter of 1947 when roads throughout Ribblesdale and the Hodder Valley watershed were either blocked or rendered danger­ ous by continuous blizzards.


My most vivid memory


were commonplace. Outlying villages and farms in such places as Twiston, Rimington, Pendleton, Worston, Slaid- b u rn and Dunsop were re p e a te d ly isolated and snowploughs had little effect. Most farmers had to bring their milk to the neare.st accessible road and several had to carry the milk by hand. Numerous farm roads could not even be used by horses


Drifts of extraordinary size


from easy and the journey which, under normal condi­ tions, would take less than an hour could , easily last half a day. On several occasions, when conditions were at their severest, I arrived in Newton just before lunch to check on the telephone lines from that point to Waddington. I began the trek on foot'over the fell.


The first three miles were


the most bewildering. With the road from Newton to Hill House Farm, at the top of Holgate brow, completely filled to the hedgetop with the d r if tin g snow. This spot remained filled for several days. The huge v/all of snow proved far too great, for the snow plough and the main clearance had to be by spade.


helpless and so the task became a backbreaking under­ taking, with men struggling to beat the constantly drifting snow.


Mechanical devices were


House and Wyndgates farms to the first cattle grid, the road was completely hidden beneath up to 10 feet of snow and ice. Only the uppermost tw'igs on the wayside hawth­ orns provided a guide to the official highway. Best way was to follow the line of least resistance.


From Holgate past Chapel


arduous, it was stimulating, bringing that feeling of well­ being only achieved by contact with the open air. It was a great stimulator.of the appe­ tite and, as I toiled and ate my sandwiches, I pressed ahead. It was with a feeling of relief that I reached the Moorcock Inn where Mr Robinson invited me to take lunch.


Although the journey was


lunch,” you may say, but that journey certainly stimulated one’s circulation and appetite.


weight of snow, I refer to the overhead telephone wires which held a tremendous covering of ice. Most of the wires, ordinarily less than a sixteenth of an inch in diame­ ter, gathered ice to a thick­ ness of three or four inches.


To give some idea of the They hung like a suspension STEP INTO .A WORLD OF FINE FURNITURE


r.REPRODUC.TION AND MODERN FURNITURE -I.TASTEFULLY DISPLAYED FOR THE DISCERNING BUYER


l i } . ^ O l l t l j lp l l f (BLACKBURN SHOP CLOSED)


bridge between the poles until, unable to take any more, w e ig h t , th e y snapp ed. Uneven; tension between the spans also caused the poles to snap like matchsticks. And imagine the strength of a stout telegraph pole over 12- inches in diameter.


affected. Downham, Riming­ ton, Twiston and the road on


Other areas were similarly -


4 0 Y O R K S T R E E T , C L IT H E R O E Tel. 23191


Pendleside were blocked and most farms isolated for several days. Wild life was decimated. The odd blackbird and thrijsh hung on to life by vis it in g farmsteads and houses until, in so many cases, deatl\ brought relief, Hares became skin and bone and the deer somehow managed to su rv iv e , d e sp i te semi- starvation.


NATURALIST “ Fancy eating another,


A 39-year link with schools is ended


A LINK with education in Clitheroe before the war has finally been broken by the retirement of Miss Evelj-n G a rn ett as a foundation governor of the town’s gram­ mar schools. Now in her 80’s Miss


Garnett has given up her posi­ tion after 39 years in which she h a s seen many big changes — one of the most sweeping being the removal of the girls’ school in 1958 to its present premises in Chalbum Road. Miss Garnett, of Moorland


Crescent. Clitheroe, feels there have been big improve­


ments in the quality of educa­ tion over the years: “Today there is much more scope in the subjects and activities children can pur.suo. At one time Miss Garnett


was simultaneously chairman of the governing body of Ribblesdale School, chairman of the managers of Pendle


C o un ty C o u n c il lo r and Clitheroe magistrate, Miss Garnett was awarded the MBE in 1957 and made a Freeman of Clitheroe in 1962.


Clitheroe education authority, before it was taken over by the County in 1944, and then went on to the County Educa­ tion Committee. A former Borough and


She also served on the old '


Junior School and Ribbles­ dale Nursery School arid a gov'enor of the Grammar Schools.


Thirteen reasons for celebratini


THERE should be quite a party in the Whalley area at the end of March . . . for then the Chew family will be celebrating its 874th birthday!


The youngest sister, Joan,


will be 60 on the 28th of that month, and she will join 11 of her brothers and sisters on the old age pensions list. All 13 brothers and sisters in the


family, formerly of Gisburn and Whalley are still ingoo<l health and all but one of them still live not many miles from their birthplace — Carter’s F:irm, Gisburn.


Their l:ist family reunion, in


1972, involved 110 people and the Sandpiper Restarant at Whalley was taken over for the occasion.


re co rd of lo n g ev i ty and health? The seventh .si.ster, Mrs Mary Maudsley, of Prin- ce.ss Street, Whalley, points out that her father lived to 89 and her mother to 82.


The reason for their fine But perhaps another reason


is the upbringing the children receivetl at Carter’s Farm and later at Nabside Farm, Whal­ ley. There, says Mrs Mauds­ ley, they always had a field or barn to play in and plenty of good fresh air.


Though such a big family


never had much to spare on luxuries, Mrs Chew always made sure there was plenty to eat and plenty of bedding and clothes to keep them warm — even if they did eat simple food, slept two to a bed and


'


during the first world war, th e re were no s ta te allo­ wances to help the parents of big families. "But I don’t think my father would have wanted a family allowance even if there had been one,” says Mrs Maudsley. All the brothers and sisters did well at school in Bolton-


wear hand-me-downs. In those -days, before and


by-Bowland and later in Whal­ ley, but none of them ever took exams to go to the Gram­ mar School. The reason for this w.as their mother's belief


made their way in other jobs in the neighbourhood.


Eldest brother Jack (now


in scrupulous fairness to one and all.


When tea ch e rs pleaded


with her to allow the younger children to take the exams, she replied that as the older ones had not been to the Grammar School, the little ones were not going either.


Says Mrs Maudsley: “We


were brought up strictly — there were no ifs and buts about it — but we were very happy.


"We had. and still have, our


differences of opinion, but to d ay each one of us Is welcome in every o th er ’s house.”


Whalley, several of the girls went to work a t Green’s Billington mill, while the boys


When the family moved to


66) became a loom overlooker, Dick (65) a forester at Witton Park, Blackburn, and Hcnr>% the youngest of all at 55, is now a Norweb d r iv e r a t Clitheroe.


Some of the sisters later


turned to other work, notably cooking, with success. During the war, the only unmarried member of the family. Miss Edie Chew, cooked GOO meals a day at the American Air Force* base a t Mildenhall, S u f fo lk , and received an award for devotion to duty. PICTURE: The Chews in


1942, when they congregated at their parents* home, then in B:ishall Eaves. From the left: back — Mary, Jean. Jack, Edie, Henry, Dolly, Dick, Doris, Madge. Front — Kitty, N e l l i e , M r J o h n C h e w ( f a th e r ) . Mrs Mary-Jane Chew (mother), Bessie, Joan.


Chasing facts about mill


DARWEN historian Dr Francis Fenton is seeking information about the paper-making industry in Clitheroe in the late 19th century.


Dr Fenton, of 2 St Cuthbert’s Close, Darwen, needs the local


knowledge for a history’ of the Darwen paper-making industry' which he is writing for the town’s Centenary Society.


Carlisle. He left the town in about 1870 and worked at the paper mills at Primrose, Clitheroe.


One of the early Darwen paper-makers was the late Mr J. In the Advertiser and Times files mention is made of a paper


mill at Primrose being opened in 1860 by Aid. C. T. Mitchell, a former Mayor of Clitheroe.


was closed because of pollution to adjoining streams. The mill was later sold and began a new career as a bleachworks. Its present owners are Stalwart Dyeing Company.


Anyone with information about Mr Carlisle or the mill is asked to contact Dr Fenton (Tel. Darwen 771403).


Where have all the singers gone ? W h a l le y W in d ow


A POPULAR feature of town and country enter­ tainment a couple of generations ago was the Sunday school concert party. Rarely throughout the autumn and winter months did a week go by when one or other of the churches in town or village did not engage such a party for the delectation of their adhe­ rents.


' three guineas which, when they had paid their travelling expenses from Blackburn, Accrington, Preston or Burn­ ley even 40 years ago still left a little over towards a new


equivalent fee would be some'- thing in the nature of £30, which probably explains why such parties no longer flourish schools and churches just


remember several of these groups — “The Idlers,” “The Air-do-wells,” the “Arca­ dians,” “The Good Compan­


can’t afford them. O ld e r r e a d e r s will


ions, “The Mountebanks" — and many of their members


.comic, Walter Greenhalgh, who even made hilarious


disc was Used in its present c o n te x t , and who -later


converted “The Moorcock”


from the sand-on*fioor coun* try pub- it then was to the


• local who walked into the in n a ft er Wa l te r had the alterations. ■


.Well lad, whaUs ta think -


fashionable eatine place it later, became. There is a lovely story, . m ^ apocryphal, about the


had reputations extending not only across Lancashire, but wdl into adjacent counties. -One recalls that famous


gramophone records (theoM78 r.p.m.) long before the word


dinner jacket or evening dress. I suppose today a roughlv


parties usually consisted of six artists: soprano, contralto, tenor and baritone, plus either an elocutionist or comedian and p ia n is t . For th e ir services, the usual charge was


These semi-professional


about it?” asked Walter. “It’s noan so bad,” said Jack, “but ah miss th’owd spittoons.” “Well, that’s nowt fresh,” retorted the landlord.’Tha alius did, didn’t tha?” Then there was Albert


rep u tatio n w’as the late Ernest' Allen, of Clitheroe, invariably immaculate in white tie and tails, who in addition to concert w’ork was in w id e d e m a n d , f o r


singers, too, who will be long remembered with than a little pleasure: Hilda Duggan; Olive Southern, Elsie - Thompson, Lizzie Sagar and many others, a n d t h a t very- c l e v e r performer on the musical saw, Harold Townsend.


to be the young girls and men around any more who take an


Somehow there donT seem


interest in good music and ballads and so they fail to develop the excellent voices so frequently found in oiir north­ ern counties. Perhaps they get their outlet in ; making p e c u l i a r noise's into a microphone -with a pop group.


immensely popular through­ out our district were Annie Chadw’ick, a lady with a glori­ ous soprano voice and delight­ ful personality, and her h u sb a n d , baritone Tom Barker. There were lots of Clitheroe


“ M e s s iah s ’’ and church oratorios. B l a c k b u r n a r t i s t s


remember with affection were the late Jimmy Douglas, of Whalley, and Clitheroe’s Tommy Dugdale, w’hose “Yard of lace” was hilariously r e c e iv e d w’h e r e v e r he appeared. A local tenor of widespread


Hodgson, “entertainer at the piano,” of Great Harwood, who would certainly have been a hit on television had he been around today, and one must not forget Clitheroe’s Sam Bridge, w’ho w’as the equal at least of both the artists mentioned. Another two comics we


or the girls let their hair grow and sit on a high stool, inex­ pertly twanging a guitar in pal e imitation of Mary Hopkin.


yesteryear are just a memory — a very pleasant memory, for they brought a great deal of pleasure into lives with very limited sources of enter­ tainment. Steam, radio was still in its infancy and televi­ sion an undreamed-of wonder. They have been ousted, I


Now the. concert parties of


suppose, not only by the limi­ tations of church finances, not only by the attractions, to me dubious, of bingo and kindred games, but by the ubiquitous television set.


their concerts, their broad­ c asts and thei r- fest ival triumphs are still well remem­ bered.


J.F. SOWERBUTTS


SUPER SALE WEEK


RRP


3-PIECE SUITE (3 sealer settee)........ ..i...... . BEDROOM SUITE (2 robes, dressing table)..... IROUND TABLE and 4 chairs.........................


REGENCY MAHOGANY SIDEBOARD 4ft. long................ ..................................... .


ODD CHAIRS (mouquette, dralon, tweed)...... Sin. From —


£255.00 £297.50


Slecpeczee 3ft. DIVAN sprung edge Sleepeezee 4ft. 6in. DIVAN sprung edge......... SOWERBUTTS £105.00


SALE PRICE


£199.50 £209.50 £84.50


£99.50 £35.75


BiG REDUCreONS IN BEDDING PRICES 3ft. DIVAN complete with headboard..


£34,90 £74.50


£151.60 : £109.75


10 KING STREET, CLITHEROE 22598


1


zens today, quietly chatting or playing bowls around the district, who recall w’ith plea­ sure all the names I have mentioned and more than a few who raised their voices in harmony with Ernest Allen and his boys. Good luck to them all —


most of the male voice choirs which were once such a feature of northern towns and villages. One or two still survive, I know, and all credit to them, but among others we pa r t i c u l a r ly lament the passing of the Clitheroe Wesley Male Voice Choir, which once brought lustre to its members and the old borough. 'There are many senior citi­


With them also have gone Paper was made there for about 20 years until, the company’ SHAWBRIDGE MILL CLITHEROE. Tel. 25142 THEO WILSON & SONS LTD Estate Agents, Sun’cyors, Auctioneers, Valuers


8 Church-Street, Clitheroe BB7 2DG. Telephone: 23252 & 23198.


•the Leeds. And you’ll see the interest start piling up right away. Your money’s safe and sound.-And available


Save regularly or put a lump sum in ■


PERfyiAiyEiyT BUILDING SO CIE TY


The Leeds Permanent gives it to you straight. Blackburn Branch: SO King William Street.


■


R.R.P.


QUALCAST RAPIDE(one only)............... £48.45


WEBB WIZARD (two only) (battery complete with charger).......... £40.39


V/ESTV/OOD 18in. 2 STROKE (one only)............


QUALCASTROTA MINI............... £24.75


QUALCAST CONCORDE.... £32.95


QUALCAST ASTRONAUT


. (one only)........ £41.95


OFFER PRICE SAVE


£38.00 £10.45


£27.00 £13.39 £39.00


£16.95 £7.80 £19.95 £13.00


£33.00 £8.95


i^rided in tlie YjortL lA/edt cJCooL yovtr [>e6t


Choose from the largest collection of Bridal Gowns in the area. All by leading bridal houses. Prices from budget to couture.


th e . i M


20 YORKSHIRE STREET, BURNLEY. Tel. 35595. Aiso


65 KING WILUAM ST. BLACKBURN. Tel. 51342. 332 LYTHAM RD, BLACKPOOL Tel. 402511.


^*t it-


'' t


I


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22