Generation X

I don’t know if I was a particular bad kid “although I was pig ugly” but it would appear that me and my mates where quite nasty little bu**er’s compared to you people. Apples, Strawberries, Rhubarb and anything that walked that was smaller than you was fair game when we where kids. That would include one piglet, one goose, several ducks, numerous hens and there eggs and the attempted kidnap of a cow. I kid you not……………

I don’t think we where vandals or anything like that, but if you could eat it, we nicked it, simple as that. We took what we wanted but did not cause wonton destruction in our wake, unless it had teeth or carried a stick or shotgun and was chasing us.

Just a point to end with, in the end I grew up to be quite a handsome chap, who abides by the law…..

Sparks in regard to your original post, what you have there is the life storey of a generation, and we are still going strong. Thank God.
 
Last edited:
I usually think that "the good old days" are retold whilst looking through rose-tinted specs, but in this case I must agree. Children now will not (usually) be allowed free run of their neighbourhood, let alone the surrounding countryside (as I had as a child, and I only lived in Ossy!!).

They will probably never experience whinberry or crab apple picking, I don't remember seeing any kids going conkering, or playing conkers for that matter. Gone are such things as germaline bubblies (!), jawbreakers, popping candy, playing knic-knac (is that how you spell it?), building your bonfire (not sure if this isn't such a good idea!), treehouses and dens, coming home completely charred from too much sun and having to practically bathe in calomine lotion, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.

Too much emphasis is placed on mollycoddling youngsters, and we are in danger of breeding a nation of soft-touch, thrill-loathing cheeky gits!!!!!!!!!!!
icon4.gif
icon4.gif
icon4.gif
 
I sometimes wonder if we have bred a generation who will never do anything first hand .... it will all be done by virtual reality on a computer. We used to hide round corners, shooting at the Indians (or the cowboys, whoever got the short straw). Now it's all on screen. Second hand thrills will never make up for the real thing - okay, you don't get skinned knees coming off your cart, but I think we enjoyed the ride more.
 
Yep I recall those gas tar bubbles - the tar was inbetween the cobbles in the back streets and we used to heat it up with a magnifying glass,till it smoked and then set on fire and then get it all over ones person.I love that smell of burning tar!


"those were the days my friend we thought they'd never end!"

"Hope I die before I go bald!" (but Pete Townsend already has)
 
Last edited:
What about a medicine bottle full of 'spanish' water and a penny Hovis loaf to take up to the park......did any of you do that???? And what about the real dandelion and burdock in stone bottles from ???Stantons......I used to drink it right out of the bottle neck and my Dad would tell me it would blow my navel off.....that was Ok because in those days I didn't know what a navel was!
 
And what about going to the Bug Hut on Saturday Morning.....cost tuppence to get in and we would watch 'Flash Gordon' and then going home we would button our coats at the collar like a caped crusader.....pull the collar up and pretend to be Ming the magnificent........yes those were the days alright.
 
Saturday Morning Pictures :rolleyes: what a laugh I recall Flash Gordon it was in black and white?

showing me age now!:D
 
Going to the "pictures" Saturday morning!! (Matinee??) So noisy, you couldn't hear a thing, Objects being flung all over the place (but no bottles or hard objects) It was the "soap opera" of the 60's, you HAD to go the following week to see if Roy Rogers escaped from the indians...........and Batman was always left in dire straights!!

But it was so cheap, even in those days. Was it about sixpence to get in? and there was always enough money to buy an ice cream from the "lady with the tray" during the interval. No over-priced popcorn or gassy coke, just lollies and orange juice!:)
 
>>They will probably never experience whinberry or crab apple picking, I don't remember seeing any kids going conkering, or playing conkers for that matter.<<

I remarked to another member, only last week, that while Acrylic-Biff ,The Terrier With Attitude, was taking me for a drag through the cemetery on Burnley Road, we came across a fine Horse Chestnut tree with shedloads of conkers beneath it and not a child in sight - what a waste!
 
Yes I've seen this in some of the schools up here, in others the kids have to ware gloves and googles so they don't get hurt, and then they can only play if they are supervised. God help us in another generation, farting, nose picking, running and having fun will be banned under Health and Safety, subject to a satisfactory Risk Assessment......:rolleyes::)
 
All this conkering stupidity stems from this pathetic blame and claim "call Paul" culture that we have now. Everybody is frightened to death of providing activities for kids in case there is a mishap and some disgruntled parent files a claim. We desperately need to kick this claim culture into touch otherwise anything previously known as childlike fun will disappear. :rolleyes:
 
Anyone here remember sneaking in the backdoor?

In those days there were two flea pits in Accrington.One on Broadway and the other round the back of the Blockade,now what was it called?
 
Guilty as charged! :o :D The fire exit was round the back and opened out facing the newsagents and the backyard of the Hope & Anchor.
 
I can remember the Kings Hall being called the 'Bug Hut' and it was only tuppence to go in there when it was sixpence to go the Odeon Saturday Club.....so we used to get sixpence to go to the Saturday club...... but go to the Bug Hut and spend fourpence on sweets (sports mixture were 5 for a penny......you could get a great bag of rainbow drops for threepence) We used to watch Flash Gordon......then we would fasten the top button of our coat and rush round like caped mad things.....what fun!
 
I used to go to the 'Bug Hut' and of course 'Flash Gordon'. We used to sit on the wooden benches at the front. I remember that 'Walter lindrums' snooker joint was underneath as well. Just a little further up was a pub called the 'Brigade' I think. Blockade doesn't ring a bell. ( I could be wrong) My step grandfather was mine host at the Brigade. His name was Bill Holgate and my maternal grandmother Gert(rude). They also kept greyhounds.(late 40's early fifties). One of them was called Lou.
 
Speaking of conkers. I still have one on a shoe lace circa 63. It's as hard as nails. It would probably make world champion these days:) . Just one of the momento's I brought with me. You people are so delightful to my eyes reading about the things you remember. The good old days before telly. The whole of Accrington and beyond was our playing area and by god didn't we have fun despite the injuries and setbacks. Lovely era.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top