Back in 1957 Harry Barlow was in the habit of testing our mental arithmetic on a Friday afternoon. He would shout out sums like the one above [obviously without the answer] and the first pupil to put up their hand and answer correctly was allowed to go home; it often meant that I got home about three quarters of an hour before school finished for the weekend - others also did well out of it!
Let us have a little stop at number 9: Robert Blenkinsopp and his wife Margaret, together with their two sons, lived at number 9 East Terrace in 1901.
Now for three 11's of that time: 11 Temperance Terrace was occupied by a young married couple - John and Isabella Marshall with their young kiddie Margaret. Meanwhile 11 Ladysmith was occupied by Bill Potter, his wife Margaret and their two children William and Robert. Finally 11 East Terrace was lived in by Bob and Isabel Kirby with their five children.
That leaves the number 42. To my surprise I could not locate anyone living at house number 42 in Ushaw Moor in 1901, although at that time some houses were unnumbered and no doubt one or two of them would have been 42 had they got around to numbering! I lived at 42 Whitehouse Court in the 50s, rather than 1901, which accounts for my ability to write this post.
Paul Burgess of the Independent newspaper reminds us that England beat West Germany 4-2 in 1966; Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland had 42 illustrations and Elvis Presley died at the age of 42.
Having composed what is probably the most boring post of 2011 I am ready for an early night - and 40 +2 winks.
WB
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Wilf,Mr Barlow (Charles Harry) used the same system when I was there, I used to look forward to this session with great results, You also mention 11 East Terrace, I am here looking at my Dog Tag which is engraved Alfred B Rothwell 11 East Terrace, Ushaw Colliery.I wonder how many still have their Dog Tags??
ReplyDeleteAfternoon Alfie,
ReplyDeleteYou have never been a penny short of a shilling so I expect you got home on Fridays for a late lunch rather than an early tea!
Great posting Wilf, and equally great comments. I remember my mam talking about Mr Barlow,,does anyone remember a Mr. Riddle ?
ReplyDeleteWilf you really lived at No 41 as No 13 was omitted from White House Ct., Bracken Ct and Victoria Ct. Wonder if this superstition was continued into Oak Ridge Rd or whether it pertained to the Old Council houses or elsewhere in Ushaw Moor. Total trivia but as we were playing the numbers game....Best regards.
ReplyDeletePeter you have made a leading edge comment - again - which reminds me, the very first time I was run out in the Tyneside Senior League I was on 41. Run out 41. v Swalwell.That was the only time I walked off mouthing inappropriate phrases - like the bowling is ....... rubbish and Geordie runs me out.
ReplyDeleteMr Riddle taught us Geography in 4A. He did not attend our 2002 reunion and although he was kindly on the phone he clearly had no interest in attending - which is fair enough.
Hi Paul
ReplyDeleteI do not recall Mr Riddle but we did have a Mrs Riddle at St Josphs school. Mrs Riddle was a lovely teacher and taught the youngest pupils in the school for many years as I recall. I also remember Mrs Joyce, Mr Murray, Mrs Kirkup, Mrs Ward, Mrs Towns and Mr Hoban. We had an old air-raid shelter at the top of our playground and we ate school lunches in the old school hall that is now the Ushaw Moor Catholic Club. Happy memories of a lovely school.
I remember Mr Riddle & he really was a nice person. We used to call Mr Barlow 'Black Harry'. If anyone dared to talk in class, they would find a blackboard rubber flying past their ear.
ReplyDeleteHe also used to smoke in class which I just remembered while I was writing this post.