How Christmas Used To Be

[garinda]

Originally Posted by West Ender

Rindy I think this will be Tony's son, Anthony, who will now be about 55. Tony will be in his 80s now, if he's still alive. Tony's wife, Anthony's mum, was called Bernadette. She was an excellent singer too, had a lovely contralto. She had very dark, curly hair when I knew her.

Tony and the Henry brothers sang at my wedding (1962) and sang a selection from Oklahoma! while we signed the register, which the guests loved. They came to my wedding reception in Ribchester, later in the day, and entertained the guests again - free of charge - so my dad bought them an evening meal and plenty of beer. They were still there when my husband and I left for our honeymoon - and still singing.

Tom Henry had the deepest bass voice I've ever heard. If Thunder could sing, it would sing like him. His brother John was a baritone and Tony Flannegan was a brilliant tenor. Together, they were extraordinary.

Yes you are right, it is his son, also called Anthony. He has a fine voice too, he must take after his father.

[jambutty]

Did you hear the one about a vicar who was given a bottle of Cherry Brandy for Xmas by his parishioners?

Not wanting to make it known that he liked a drink, at the sermon on Xmas morning he preached, “My thanks to the parishioners for the gift of fruit and the spirit in which it was given.”

[xLouisex108]

I really enjoyed reading your story! i bet it was great in those days its not enjoyable at all anymore, i hope to here some more of your stories. xx

[BERNADETTE]

Originally Posted by xLouisex108

I really enjoyed reading your story! i bet it was great in those days its not enjoyable at all anymore, i hope to here some more of your stories. xx

I can recommend a really good one. If you search for "15 September 1962" I guarantee you will enjoy it just as much. Try it!!

[MargaretR]

My most vivid memory of Christmas as a child was my auntie who saved up all her toffee ration coupons for the year and presented my brother and I with a biscuit tin each, full of toffee and chocolate bars (better than gold to us)- we binged until we felt sick

[Gayle]

Originally Posted by West Ender

Rindy I think this will be Tony's son, Anthony, who will now be about 55. Tony will be in his 80s now, if he's still alive. Tony's wife, Anthony's mum, was called Bernadette. She was an excellent singer too, had a lovely contralto. She had very dark, curly hair when I knew her.

Tony and the Henry brothers sang at my wedding (1962) and sang a selection from Oklahoma! while we signed the register, which the guests loved. They came to my wedding reception in Ribchester, later in the day, and entertained the guests again - free of charge - so my dad bought them an evening meal and plenty of beer. They were still there when my husband and I left for our honeymoon - and still singing.

Tom Henry had the deepest bass voice I've ever heard. If Thunder could sing, it would sing like him. His brother John was a baritone and Tony Flannegan was a brilliant tenor. Together, they were extraordinary.

I'm afraid Tony Flanagan died about ten years ago. Bernadette is still going strong though. Anthony Flanagan is a friend of mine too and he also has a wonderful singing voice - as does his brother Michael and both their sisters. They are in St Mary's choir now so keeping the tradition going.

[West Ender]

I guessed Tony had died, Gayle, but I'm glad to hear about Bernadette. I don't think Anthony would remember me as he's quite a bit younger than I am. I remember 1 girl being born, I didn't know there were 2.

Is St Marys choir as good as it used to be? It was all male voice in the 50s and 60s but they always had a boy soprano singing with them for Christmas Midnight Mass (I believe in about 1918 it was my uncle Bob!).

[burt]

i also was born in 1943 oh what a great time we had now its just a money making racket.there is no xmas feeling joyful and happy

[grannyclaret]

Originally Posted by jamesicus

.

I sang in the Choir at Burnley St. Matthew's Church and my family always went to Christmas Eve service -- it was the only time of the year my father went to Church (except for Weddings and funerals).

Remember when Woolworth's used to have a Father Christmas? You got a little cheap wrapped toy from him -- "pink for girls, blue for boys".

James

I too went to St Mathews church ,in Burnley,When i was older i loved the xmas eve service,it was always packed out,but when i was little we had to go to bed early..or father xmas wouldent come,"we believed anything then,",,,i remember hanging my brothers stocking up because it was one of those grey knee length ones and mine were white socks..I remember we always got a smokers set,,chocolate cigar white sugar cigarettes and liquorice pipe,,ooh the p.c. brigade would have a field day now....
By the way i was born in 1941.....

[mez]

thanks for the memory westender our christmases were much the same as your's, how i loved playing whist & domino's with my family .......good times, happy times.

[Mick]

This is one of me taken in 1957 with two of my cousins

[BERNADETTE]

What happened Mick???

[panther]

hey them chairs are back in fashion now arnt they?

[Gayle]

Originally Posted by West Ender

I guessed Tony had died, Gayle, but I'm glad to hear about Bernadette. I don't think Anthony would remember me as he's quite a bit younger than I am. I remember 1 girl being born, I didn't know there were 2.

Is St Marys choir as good as it used to be? It was all male voice in the 50s and 60s but they always had a boy soprano singing with them for Christmas Midnight Mass (I believe in about 1918 it was my uncle Bob!).

There's Anthony, Michael, Mary and Eileen. There's quite a big gap between the elder three and Eileen, possibly about 10 years I think.

St Mary's choir is still excellent - most of the Flanagans sing in it, plus Mary's husband Dylan.

[ANNE]

I loved the Christmas eve service at church when I got a little older. It meant I could stay up late. I remember one year we even had a real live Donkey.