Accrington Web - View Single Post - Eric Morecambe (part of Morecambe and Wise)

Trish · 10-02-2008, 21:13

Hi, I know this thread has been inactive for some time (have only just found the site)

Eric Morecambe was indeed known around these parts. His mother Sadie and my maternal grandmother Mary (commonly known as 'May') were first cousins.

My grandma lived in a cottage in Mary St (Clayton-le-Moors) but had to move to Accrington (long before) the motorway was built. St Mary's Gardens is now on that site.

Anyway, when Eric and Ernie were playing in the clubs in the North West/Yorkshire Eric used to visit my grandma who he called 'Auntie May'. This must be a good 40 years ago. My grandma had an old miner's lamp (which I think belonged to my uncle when he first worked in the local mines in the 50's). Eric, having been a Bevin boy (conscripted into working in the mines) wanted to buy this lamp from my gran but she wasn't for letting him have it! As far as I remember my uncle kept it when my grandma died.

Unfortunately I never got to meet the great man, although my parents and auntie did several times. Apparently he called round to visit us one time with my gran but we were out! My Grandma used to get a Christmas card every year (and I think birthday card as well) personally signed by Eric, I remember seeing them on her sideboard - "To Auntie May, love Eric and Joan".
I still have a publicity card signed by him to my parents when they first met him.

One story I do recall about Eric is when my Auntie took my grandma to Hest Bank (near Morecame) to see her cousin Sadie. Eric and Ernie were doing the summer season in Blackpool and Eric was at his mum's (haven't a clue when this was, I was probably about 11 which would make it 1968). As my auntie and gran were leaving Sadie's, Eric was outside pretending to be a chauffeur, opening the door ostentatiously and polishing my Auntie's tiny Fiat car with his hankie!

According to my gran, Eric was as funny off screen as he was on, and said fame did not change him, however, my she felt fame did change Ernie, saying he became a bit pompous (rather like the character portrayed in the series with his "plays what I have wrote"!)

10-02-2008, 21:13	#13
Trish Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 3 Liked: 0 times Rep Power: 0	Re: Eric Morecambe (part of Morecambe and Wise) Hi, I know this thread has been inactive for some time (have only just found the site) Eric Morecambe was indeed known around these parts. His mother Sadie and my maternal grandmother Mary (commonly known as 'May') were first cousins. My grandma lived in a cottage in Mary St (Clayton-le-Moors) but had to move to Accrington (long before) the motorway was built. St Mary's Gardens is now on that site. Anyway, when Eric and Ernie were playing in the clubs in the North West/Yorkshire Eric used to visit my grandma who he called 'Auntie May'. This must be a good 40 years ago. My grandma had an old miner's lamp (which I think belonged to my uncle when he first worked in the local mines in the 50's). Eric, having been a Bevin boy (conscripted into working in the mines) wanted to buy this lamp from my gran but she wasn't for letting him have it! As far as I remember my uncle kept it when my grandma died. Unfortunately I never got to meet the great man, although my parents and auntie did several times. Apparently he called round to visit us one time with my gran but we were out! My Grandma used to get a Christmas card every year (and I think birthday card as well) personally signed by Eric, I remember seeing them on her sideboard - "To Auntie May, love Eric and Joan". I still have a publicity card signed by him to my parents when they first met him. One story I do recall about Eric is when my Auntie took my grandma to Hest Bank (near Morecame) to see her cousin Sadie. Eric and Ernie were doing the summer season in Blackpool and Eric was at his mum's (haven't a clue when this was, I was probably about 11 which would make it 1968). As my auntie and gran were leaving Sadie's, Eric was outside pretending to be a chauffeur, opening the door ostentatiously and polishing my Auntie's tiny Fiat car with his hankie! According to my gran, Eric was as funny off screen as he was on, and said fame did not change him, however, my she felt fame did change Ernie, saying he became a bit pompous (rather like the character portrayed in the series with his "plays what I have wrote"!)