Confessions of a Misspent Youth by Fred et al ....

[michele cryer]

Hmmmm....either you had a bit of a problem sending your message...or you just didn't have a misspent youth...don't forget, contact me if you're still having problems

michele

[Mitch]

Titter ;D That blank was my fault, as I started the thread when we were at Fred's digs, but didn't put anything in!!!

Looks rather effective as a blank though Come on Fred, lets have some of these Burnley tales of old - no point in reinventing the wheel hey - we need to hear them.

Hope you've been keeping you're vests to yourself! ;D

Best Mitch

[michele cryer]

LOL Mitch..u know, after I posted that I remembered what you just told us...and I thought the same as you...blank is quite effective!!

But yes, come on Fred, own up to your mischievous youth!!!

[francis duckett]

Fred's Mispent Youth.

Perhaps Fred's a bit shy! But i can remeber when he was an apprentice and e were in't Labour Party. No anarchist then, little better than a tory!

It were in 1949,(about then,) Burnley Wood Labour Party wer't proud owners of rooms in Clarence st, ower co-op. They decided to get a pianer fot dancers on saturday night. to raise money, tha noes fort elections.Fred couldn't come as he'd got night school on. It wer before easter. As e were coming home from't mill about 6 oclock we met on .t top o Clarence st and he wondered what crowd wer about outside rooms.

It wert fellas to meet piano. The rooms wer got at from't backstreet. A small backyard wit lav and right ahead wert door and a lot ter narrow stone stairs. Piano was got from Johnsons secondhand shop on Oxford rd, an it cost about 15pun.
By time Fred ' ud got there van'ad arrived and he stopped t' give em a lift.Unfortunately it got stuck on van doors hinge.It were a Jowett and hing stuck out.
Anyroad up they got ,out eventually ont't back street.Intut back yard and strait up tot door. There it stuck. What the bloody els rong one carrier shouted. Stuck wert reply, agen, what on? jarm at door , it came back. So they took bottom right hand jarm at door off. They lifted piano again and made another rush. Ye gods it were steep. It stuck again, 'for crying out loud whats rong now'. Hand rail on right hand side, the were told. Take the sodding thing off then. It were a long rail, 22 deep steps , but it came off. Third time lucky? Not it, stuck again . Its to small! What is for god's sake ? Stairs is, piano wont fit. Lids jammed up against plaster on't left side. tek it off then. What Lid ot plaster both. So they took of both lid over't keys and plaster up twenty two steps. Step by bloody step these heroes miners and cardroom hands bouncid piano up and up. When they gottut top , across from't stairs was an office. In there turn left ,out again and intut kitchen.
Whive we stopped? Won't go in wast reply. Never mind bring it back and we'll manourve it and not bother wit office. Can't were stuck. Jammed. Well then take the bloody jarms of door. Door as well, they asked. Everything! So they stripped both jarms of and door as well. wait a minute , It won't go through Kitchen door , strip it off sameas office? Sothey did and got intot kitchen. Trouble was from kitchen intot main room was to small evenin its reduced state. So they took it back on tot landing intot thoffice and back down steps. Trouble was as thed taken it up stairs they'd channeld plaster on left side going down thed reversed piano and they'd to channel plaster on tot right. By eight theyd got it back int yard. What'll we do wi it ? someone asked. Lets vote said fred. Piss of said ward councillor. By this time itud started to rain. See if Johnson ud take it back. We'll look rite wankers said chairman. Then someone said what about windows? Two stories up. Thaart mad. No, we can get it on't shelter and swing it over yard tut window. So they took window frame out. Lets measure it said secretary. It's allreight said ward councillor it go in . Where shall we put the windowsaid them as were holding it. Down at back . This wasn't thonly idea but most sanitary. Then it struck. How to get the bloody thing on tot shelter? A rope. Your right where will we get them from. So they sat and parleyed. Try fire station. Our Jeffs uses them. It were nine when they came back with ropes. two. It were poring down and dark. Put bloody lights on in big room. Backyard were flooded. Somebody ,not waiting fort que to clear was pissing in't corner . Just then a voice said who are you what are you doing here ? If you don't go away I'll send for the police. f**k off said ward councillor and treasurer. After that it were plain sailing and about 10.30pm Burnley
wood Labour Party got its piano in. It cost £15.00 to buy and about 100 for repairs. Fred lost a night at night school and failed his history exam.

An excerpt from the North East Lancs Oral History Society interview with Francis \Ducket who was interviewed in the Clarion Club just before closing Time.

[Gracie Fields]

by gum, Francis remember that bit o' fun we had at Mary Ellen's Hot Pot do............ I sung a song about it..




MARY ELLEN’S HOT POT PARTY

We had a bit of fun up North, by gum we did an’ all
When last week Mary Ellen had a do.
She gave an hot pot party, everyone was asked to call
And they rolled up in a crowd to see it through.

We had nobility from every part of Lancashire,
They rattled up in clogs and evening dress.
With all the piers of Preston and the swells of Stalybridge
And with barrow lads from Barrow-in-Furness.

(chorus)
At Mary Ellen’s hot pot party,
The lads and lasses all were gay and hearty
Everyone was ‘ere - the cream o’ Lancashire
And the Rajah of Runcorn and the Prince o’ Wigan Pier.

Somebody filled the wash-hand jug with ale reet up to spout.
We used it as a loving cup and handed it about
But knocker-up he knocked it back until it knocked him out
Eh eh - At Mary Ellen’s hot pot do.

The hot pot filled the room with steam
Was like a washing day
And people had to grope their way about.
The table cloth was perfect, well except for one big hole
Where someone had cut the crossword puzzle out.

As she was dishin’ out the hot pot Mary Ellen said,
They’ll be enough to go round I hope.
I made it in the hipbath then John Willie tasted his and said,
‘Well thou might a taken out the soap
eh eh.

(chorus)
All the elite – what a famous crew
With the big bugs o’ Bolton and the swells of Salford too.
A conjuror entertained us, he were gormless though I fear.
He tried all sorts of things but couldn’t make um disappear.
The only thing that he could do the trick was Woolworth Beer
At Mary Ellen’s hot pot do.

(chorus)
Wasn’t it a crowd, wasn’t it a school
With the wot nots of Widnes and the Lords of Liverpool.
We sat down to the hot pot and someone began to bleet

He said to leave the eyes in potatoes isn’t reet.
Mary Ellen Said I left um in to help us look for te meat – eh eh
At Mary Ellen’s hot pot do.


(spoken) Eye, we had ta look for um an all ……..

[michele cryer]

LMAO at Francis Duckett and Gracie Fields...keep it rollin' folks!!!

[francis duckett]

Fred and't union and Vilma Douthwaite.

For sumone who hates guts o't union, fred'd been a member from 2nd day he started work. His mam said e had to join. She was a killer and Fred were feared of her. Auntie Lizzie were alright but she never let one thump do if she could get two in. She were a mate of my mam's .They went in't Stanley together on Oxford rd.
Anyhow fred went to join't union but fellah said no wait a week or two see if your stopping. When lizzie asked see his card fred told her't story. She thumped him and told him to join next day. Chap wer'nt right keen till he found out Lizzie were freds mother. She'd been a slubbing tenter there. It wern't a big union and just before we,d got there to save it, it ud collapsed more or less, because top man, secretary, had done a runner wit cash and books. A chap called Wolf or wolfendon, lived on Cameron st, had saved it by going outside factories wi joining forms all durin't winter snow. They ad two bosses while we were there, both got top jobs in union world. One of em, Greenwood by name, had to hide from't women during a strike because they recond he'd sold em out. He didn't ,but only becos they didn't let him. Tother got on TUC general council. He was a real slimy get. When he came forra problem, first thing he asked was, is she/ he a catholic? if tha said no case were lost. If't answer wer ya the won. Used to spend ours closeted wit managment and bragged his childer were asked t't annual party for children ot directors and management. Fred upset him when he said he could understand why. When't strike wer on Fred were an apprentice and he was told to work. Then his mam came by and said when he finished work at 5.30, to go to his antie Ivy's. Why said fred? For tha tea she said. Going out,he asked? No said Lizzie but the's no scabs coming in my house. Fred put on his coat , I were working, men wernt involved. Just as he got tert office, manager asked , where you going , get back men aren't on strike. Just at that moment women were walking past dragging coats o't men on't floor and throwing em in street. Men were stood there looking daft and embarrassed. Fred tol,t manager , my mam said I'd to go on strike or go to me aunt's. (I knew is aunt, it were a fate wurs na death,) Manager looked puzzled, who's thy mam? Lizzie Threlfall. Manager changed colour. Tha'd better be off then. I don't want her round here. Lock door , he told t 'carder.
So fred took a fornight off. Lovely weather,no rain. I joined him second week as chaps came out in support. They had to .Some had been thumped and pointed out in't pubs.

Later Fred became t'collector. A shop steward like.He wer only 18, no other silly bugger would do it.

Because o't collapse, only about thirty out ot all factory were members so it wern't hard. One ut good uns were a lass cold Vilmer Douthwhaite. Lovely lass. Six foot straight up and down. She'd long blond hair, under a cap. And built like a dream. Trouble was she had her failings. She fancied fred for a start! She was like is mam though. Tough like a brick building, accrington brick to. Non o this local rubbish. She was bright and a think this is why she wer friends with Fred. He was bright ,in a way. He read a lot. Took time to teach him ou to opent' book, but once he'd mastered that he wer a way. Now! Vilmer wer what yanks called a Union Maid. She were a member. She'da bin better as steward than him. But a clever women wi mussles wouldn't do. She wer a socialist to, non athis Labour rubbish. She wer one on er own.
One day she thumped a woman, nellie, for rubbishint steward and union. Fred, never one to pass up a chance for fame tuk advantage to go round all t'non members and asked them to join, saying that management were worried at trouble and were asking everybody ter cooperate. It wer a lie. But it worked most joined.Onlit rough said no. One chap, Hargreaves,in't spinning room chased fred out ot ally. He wer saved by Vilmer. Then Fred went tert management and said factory were on fire wi trouble and that it wernt is fault. Manager wer new, ( Labour Councillor from Bacup), rubbish man. He panicked and sent fert union secretary and they made it a union shop. It wer fred, backed by vilma that did it , but secretary claimed success. Vilma went for im and thro im outot ally. We herd later that he claimed 6p, per new member for them that ad joined. Not a bad sum for at least 200 members, in them days, money meant summat.
It were dangerous for Fred nowing Vilma. She wer far to fast for him.
She used to get him to go to Belgium, near Ostend. At first I thart it wer't usal weekend. I couldn't imagine wat it wer like. Fred wi is book and Velma waiting. But it wern't like that , fascists ad a march there and Vilma got Fred to go with her and join t'opposition. She'd protect him. Later we all went and it wer interesting.Facists had big banners and posters saying Vor Christ und Flanders. Ther wer fights everywhere, wit Belgian gendarmery and wit fascists .Vilma tuk em all on.They chased fred in to a cinema whist pictur wer on and he was thrown out and he hid in a cafe. They looked for him.Luckily owner wer a socialist and hid fred till Vilma came forrim . Not only did we fight the right in belgium, we used to go to Manchester nr, Deansgate and throw stones at the Blackshirts and once we threw stones and pennies at Mosely. Pennies wer't werst. It wer costly but effective. In Burnley, Bolshies and Fascists used to barrack one ather on 't old market and we used to go and barrack them. The fascists thretened us ant week after we went wi re-enforcments . Vilma's brothers. Ye god's they were like jolly green giants. No one bothered us. It were then I decided to drop mi lust for Vilma. her brothers wer massive and protective. They culd do a fellah a lot of arm. It wer better left ta Fred.

[francis duckett]

posted by the north east lancs oral history society from a tape given by francis duckett just before he was given a lift in a police van after being in the Clarion Socialist Club.

[michele cryer]

eee, Francis tha's got some good stories te tell!!

[Francis Ducket]

Spreading the Word.

It wer summer and we wer keen to evangelise to tek the message out tut wide world. No more Labour party ,no more working fut flaming meritocracy. Apart from owt else thed no merit. We'd left Labour just before Christmas and full of zeal we decided to take message tut wide world!
Trouble was which message did we take? Fred wanted to take the revolutionary socialist message of the ILP. Vilma ont tuther hand wanted a clear anarchist outlook broadcast. As good revolutionaries, scientifically we chose the ILP. Fred's grandad and granny had been int ILP when it started in 19th Cent. So we all decided that was it. It wer before Christmas we ud come to a decision,in't Clock face Pub in Centre.It were a lovely night sleet and freezing, just as we got tert pub a feller had a bust in is tyre. he were struggling an me and fred went to watch and comment. He couldn't get tyre off. having trouble said fred?What the bloody ell you think said chap? He were red in face and fred thought we were gonner get belted. he pannicked, let me try. Oh Heaven,it wer embarrassing. he was about as strong as cotton wool. Just then help came, Vilma to see where her wandering boy was. I never could understand what she saw in him. Anyroad, shee moved the wheel and saved fred. The threatening visage she presented stopped chap from clocking fred. We took chap in to pub and bought him a drink to warm him. Later we went out in tut snow after we'd decided to joint ILP and undertake some evangelism. At villages just outside town.
First effort were at hapton, we booked a room at Church school.Then we put an advert int paper ,later just befort meeting we leafleted. It were mostly a Labour village an it were split, Church wer Con and Methodies were Labour. We did well for numbers , trouble was they didn't listen but kept barracking us. That is until madam chairman told em to shut up..
Full of enthusiasm for this sort of stuff we later decided to have another go. This time wit hoss and cart. It were Yorkshire we looked to, reckoning they were a rough lot and quite dumb. We got a cart and hoss, we hired them from a firm down neart gas just off rectory road. We took hoss out for practice ,being put through course by Vilma. Cart had aroof on and inside we put
our tents and food. Vilma couldn't come she wernt so well and it showed. Fred went about looking shocked and lost. I always thot it were im, but I couldnt imagine what went on. I didn't believe bible stories. But knowing fred??Auntie Lizzie didn't have any complaints she liked Vilma and knew fred was doing well for himself. She took fred to one side and threatened him that if he ever took violent action against Vilma or any other women he'd have her to settle with. What a laugh. The thought of anyone being violent with Vilma med me laff. One chap did and theyd to save him from her. Polis threatened to prosecute, inspite ot witnesses all speaking for her. Chap didn't want it known he'd been beat up by a gel.It were at Rottenstall. All inbreeding in them villages. I'd have let her have im fer tea. It were afternoon we set of, just outside Gasometer, below Tory Club on Blenheim St. Cart were decked wi red flags and ribbons as wurt hoss it had lots of brass medals on and wer decorated wi ribbons on its tail.All done by Vil. Sure yure alright she asked? We laughed. We were going on a crusade to awaken England to Revolutionary Socialism.Were We alright? The bloody hell we were. Trouble was, NO. fred couldn't manage reyns ot hoss. n It went where it wanted. There werent much traffic but what there wer wernt pleased. wE WENT THROUGH CENTRE PAST CROWDS COMING OUT AT GRAND AND PALACE. fRED LEADING AND TOTHER SIX GIVING LEAFLETS OUT AND SELLINGT PAPERS We would never have left burnley if we'd relied on fred. So just past Brierfield we made a phone call. It were either that or giving up. Thoss had taken a position outside a green grocers shop an were eating food out at baskets. Shop owner were going mad. Wed to pay, heavily, for the food thorse ad eaten..We were going for three days and it tooks one night ad one day to get anywhere. Fred wer useless. But Wilma arrived in her brothers car along wi her sister Aimee as chaperone. Aimee was to preserve the ameenities. A bit late considering Vilma's frontage. Finally we got to a Yorkshire village.It were remote tother side o- Colne. After a try in't pub we went tot church hall , ort village hall, not sure. Trouble was they were primitives, not even labour.All covered in mud an hay
in ther hare.They wore boots an leggins. It wernt long before they picked up on what we wer on about. Trouble started wi a lad who were all red air. His head and nose and rists wer all covered, along wi his boots and leggins he were a picture. Fred took care to put a spare sauce bottle ont table were he sat wi is back tot wall. They wer on about communists and reds, of course fred wer full of it and wanted trouble. He couldn't lift a bloody kipper, allus bin same, every one told him, he jus didn't believe it. He never knew, it never sunk in. He put a good case though and I thought wid done well. First speaker wer Alan catterall , a good lad, then it wer fred! Nothing ever stopped im telling it as he saw it and Vilmas "condition," had booked him up.He spoke well. It wer when the red headed lad called her a commie cow that trouble started. It wer george catterall who went for him, followed by fred. Village thugs went for them.I were doing my best from stage and thought I wer safe. It wer when someone caught my collar and started to drag me off that I new we were losing. We were saved becuse they wouldn't hit a woman . Thank the gods.

We spent most of next day at a village further on over a bloody great hill.
That day we cut our losses and returned home. We'd done our bit. Given thousands of leaflets out and sold about a hundred pamphlets about workers control and workers councils, as well as copies of socialist leader.

Recorded at the Re-habilitation Centre, Clowbridge. For the NE Lancs Oral History Society, with Mr Francis Duckett. The Society wish it to be known they had no part in the fraca that took place that night through someone smuggling in strong drink.

[michele cryer]

LOL...A welcomed return of our resident historian...Francis Duckett!

Thank you for that great recollection Francis... ;D

[Francis Duckett]

Ah new she wer trouble as soon as she stood up! She were another one fromt country, Simonstone.In them days it wer all wellies an sheep or cousins an relatives.It's not right ,weakens blood! She stood there .
They're not listening, all we do, meetings, selling papers,leafleting and door to door,its wasted we might as well go home. That want wit said, well what should we be doing? Ye gods, he'd about as much sense as billy moon. Ahd ave said summat, but ah knew it wer no use, she lucked just like Vilma, but not as elegant. Not as strong. Didn't ave figure. She didn't need it with that twit.He wer lost,he didn't see her, he saw tother, lost one.
What do you propose? Direct action wert reply. He 'd sense to tell her D/A should be done an not talked about openly. Well he knew, we both did. We'd just burnt down recruiting office ,not here, but just outside Manchester. Polis wer never away. Theh tuk everything boots and clothes. Annice wer mad,at them and me.Don't blame me, ah said, it wer your Vilma as started it.O ye gods did she go on. Wed only bin married 6 months an it wer seperate beds. Bloody army. Bloody polis. Ah should hev said summat, but what? It wer him ah should have strangled. He turnt subject but ah new, an it didn't surprise me when we turned up on a Saturday outside Mecca wi a bottle o petrol an sugar with a long rag wick. It wer raining an ah wer fed up. Annice had wanted ter gotut pictures an I thart this wud out, but no, she wer as daft as him. They were never married ,vilma an him, but she ,an all't family thought of him as a bloody inlaw. It wer about eight when we got there, wernt many people about. Just some early uns going in. We looked at bloody caravan they used as recruiting office. It might as well as bin on an nill as far as ther wer any cover. Don't moan he said, thes a wall .Its dark and getting darker.We're ont main bloody street ah pointed out an thas lamps . Lets do it now he sed. Wait for bloody girl to come ah said.Why shill just beint way said he. So we went down ginnel , caravan space an wall. try going down a ginnel wi another chap, meks you cringe, well it did me. Peole can have ther own ways, but its not same as going down wi a lass. He tried lighting it wi a match, theyre wet he sed after third or fourth. I can see that, here try this ,i'd brought a lighter. God it flared like lightening. People wer passin going tert dance . Finally , wick lit. He put it down an we raced for,t It were a bit undignified squabbling who got on main rd, first but then we turned round, a to clear evreyone of the passers bye away and to see the sight as the bottle exploded. Nowt happened. You silly sod he cried you didn't lite it right. Of couse I did, it wer 't rain. No it were the wind said a low husky voice. We both turned round.It wer her and she had her boyfriend wi her. He wer a big gawped wi a suit on that you could ave herd in Rawtensal. No fred said, it wer wick not put in right. I nearly said it wernt all he couldn't put in.But what's use. Let's try agin. It hasn't gone out, said someone, what hasn't, daft lad said. Speaker a little chap about 20 said tha bomb. All 5 of us lucked downt ginnel.I couldn't see anyspark. I can said girl. It just waiting. No said spectator it's gone out. I didn't feel like taking a chance, here on a saturday night. Fred said we can't leave it, it could blow up. I nearly did. We went back someone out ot crowd said move it out ot draft! We tried , we lit it afresh and hastily retired down escape rout .It didn't blow. Put it oer tother side ot wheels said someone Fred looked round bewildered like. There must have been a crowd of about 10 or 15 dancers waiting to go in and spending time discussing sabotage. Come on said lad, belonging girl.Lets go in. These couldn't light it if they tried. No said girl, I'm here and i'll doo it.NO, said fred all gallant I'll go down again, this were about 5th, time.Look out fert police.I'll come down with you said girl.If polis come we'll pretend we're doing something. She'd balls. Lad said, you can't do that, watl folk thing.I don't care said girl. I've waited for you long enought to try. It wer dark now and he wer int shadow but we could all sense his shame. He hung his hed. Fred and er went down ,I followed and so did one or two others. You can't all come said girl. We want to watch said a young chap wi red air.What said fred, watch what? You an her, in fact I wouldn't mind having a go misself. He started on. Get back yer little swine said fred. I didn't mean it like that said the red hedded lad, beating off the farmers boy I meant the bottle. I bet. Fred turned all decsisiv all of you get back. You he said to miss simonstone stay behind me. She did, we went back and she started to unbutton her blouse.We all rushed back wanting to help wit bottle. Polis cried someone in crowd. Move it farter over said a womans voice .Pick it up and hide it.Air wer full of suggestions. She' can't do that lad cried she's with me. She'd better be doing something other than playing wi a bottle of petrol when polis comes said another young women.

[Francis Duckett]

Ah new she wer trouble as soon as she stood up! She were another one fromt country, Simonstone.In them days it wer all wellies an sheep or cousins an relatives.It's not right weakens blood! She stood there .
They're not listening, all we do, meetings, selling papers,leafleting and door to door,its wasted we might as well go home. That want wit said, well what should we be doing? Ye gods, he'd about as much sense as billy moon. Ahd ave said summat, but ah knew it wer no use, she lucked just like Vilma, but not as elegant. Not as strong. Didn't ave figure. She didn't need it with that twit.He wer lost,he didn't see her, he saw tother, lost one.
What do you propose? Direct action wert reply. He 'd sense to tell her D/A should be done an not talked about openly. Well he knew, we both did. We'd just burnt down recruiting office ,not here, but just outside Manchester. Playing wi fire was not only criminal they thought you wer mad.Polis wer never away. Theh tuk everything boots and clothes. Annice wer mad,at them and me.Don't blame me, ah said, it wer your Vilma as started it.O ye gods did she go on. Wed only bin married 6 months an it wer seperate beds. Bloody army. Bloody polis. Ah should hev said summat, but what? It wer him ah should have strangled. He turnt subject, but ah new, an it didn't surprise me when we turned up on a Saturday outside Mecca wi a bottle o petrol an sugar with a long rag wick. It wer raining an ah wer fed up. Annice had wanted ter gotut pictures an I thart this wud out, but no, she wer as daft as him. They were never married ,vilma an him, but she ,an all't family thought of him as a bloody inlaw. It wer about eight when we got there, wernt many people about. Just some early uns going in. We looked at bloody caravan they used as recruiting office. It might as well as bin on an ill as far as ther wer any cover. Don't moan he said, thes a wall .Its dark and getting darker.We're ont main bloody street ah pointed out an thas lamps . Lets do it now he sed. Wait for bloody girl to come ah said no he sed, its up to us. We went down ginnel. Its not same going in dark places wi a chap. Wi a girl your full of hope , wi a chap your embarrassed.What if someone recognised yer Here he proffered bottle wit wick. I struck match but rain put it out.We tried about five. Then a voice said here try this.A red heded lad wi a lighter.Thanks we said. Having lit it finally we three set of at gallop fort street. ther wer a crowd, wer did they al come from said fred, were are you goin? Dancing said a tall girl wi long hair. Its gone out said a husky voice, it wert girl.She looked well, she had a feller in tow.He had a suit on you could hear in preston. Is that yourn I sed. She,s wi me said lad.I ignored him.Crowd grew, whats going on people cried , burning recruiting office down said a tall gawky stranger. Lad , wi girl said I'm not wi them, I'm going dancin. We tried agin. Advice poured in as fast as rain poured down. It wer useless. Move it over said Simonstone Girl. Put it father under said red heded lad. Bring it forward said someone else. Let it go sed I ,if it goes up now we'll all fry. No just one more try said girl. What if polis comes said I lucking at crowd. I'll be there said girl, I'll go with you and we'll pretend to be doing something. Crowd were elctric. Her lad said, but your wi me! I hope I have more luck wi him said girl than I've had wi you. It wern't my fault he said, your eric came in. They moved downt gin and started to follow everyones advice.Polis cried a girl. Simonston unfastened her blouse at top. we all rushed down and crowded in.What's going on said fred.Were coming to watch and help said red heded lad.Get back and keep watch you little rat. I didn't mean it said lad but grinned. Suddenly a voice said , whats goin on. Lad fromt farm said my girls down there wi a fella.Where said polis man looking in tat gloom.There can't you hear them.What are they doin said policeman. I never thought they were bright but dear me!
Well its not illegal said tall girl. It is if its in public said copper. Whats goin on he moved down and everybody followed pushin and shovin. I wer here first said red hed, and I'm her boy friend said clown. noise and banging grew.Polis man said stop that, boy friend said summuns um . Just then It stopped and girl came out, her hair wer long and she looked well.Bshe was fastening her skirt and hem were fast in er drawers. Whats goin on sed plod? We've bin looking for an earing she said.I've lost one.She's been wi him an they've bin.He'd a sed more but all crowd swerled round him. He couldn't do anything tall girl said, he tried and couldn't.Eric came in sed lad.Who's eric said copper? Her brother, said small girl giggling. I went to school wi him he wer a bugger then. He's old enough to be your dad said polisman, not him eric. Are you a comic someone one cried.Polis turned round and crowd moved forward. Did you do it? Yes said girl, but what about me said fella wit loud suit. You'll be fried if you don't clear out said I move. What a do Girl moved past removing her skirt from her drawers. marvellous move that said fred smirkin.
All of a sudden I felt lost.He's growin up said Annice later.Its bound to happen. Then it all calmed down.Girl went away smiling and fred looked pleased wi himself and lad wit suit looked fed up. We all gave someone elses name and went home. By next day there had been an accident caravan had burned down and a blow ad bin struck for freedom.

[Francis Ducket]

Recorded in Pub on hammerton St, at Christmas.1994. By East Lancs Oral History Society and found in an empty beer crate on Burnly tip.

[Mitch]

I'm losing track o' these Ducketts, they're breeding like rabbits.

Duckett, in this 'ere Headless archive I'm finding a gem or two on Burnley activists history, and the odd strange item like the Bolshivik Circus' visit to Padiham in the 1960s. Got some great pictures of this up on my walls! Did you or Fred attend that performance at all?

Now then, I 'appen to come across a copy of an interesting little rag that was produced in Burnley for a time in the late 1960s, through the 1970s by the look of it although no date on the rags.

The name of this was 'The Albert'. Wondered if you'd 'erd of it, and could give us some more information.

Looks like it was focused on music, poetry, art and it was non-profit making and done for fun. Lots of this great articles, some political, some music reviews, and lots of cartoon clips, and the odd little ditty on the Albert culture page along the lines of:

"HELLO OUT THERE
This is a song for youWhoever you are
This poem is for you
But it is for you
Even more
If it happens to be
The girl I saw last Saturday night.

If you are
I apologise for not telling you
How good looking you are
And also for not speaking to you.

I was drunk." (signed J.P.G)

This 'ere belows a little article by Sarah & Hilary called
'CREATE YOUR OWN ROLE'

"The first steps have been taken towards women's liberation - socially and legally - but unless women follow it through with the initiative and are will to do something concrete thse reforms could be retracted. The 1967 abortion law is now seven years later being severly questioned.

This could be the liberated era for women if they are willing to take responsibility for definate actions. Women will remain in the secondary role if they continue being the onlookers and encouragers of the male participators. In group situations where you might expect more equality to be prevalent, ie. pubs, clubs, concerts and parties there appears to be the same social inhibitions of past centuries. The potential for equal contribution is present but is repressed by the habit of taking personal credit for the actions by their male counterparts.

Over the past issues of Albert there has been a noticeable lack of womens involvement - creatively or administratively. The next Albert will come out when there's enough material to print, which we hope will be more frequently in future. We'd like more articles, cartoons etc. with a fairer proportion by women but if we don't get them we can't print them".
(Sarah and Hilary) - you know these two Duckett?

Also Duckett, I'm browsing through a few of these 'ere old copies of The Socialist Leader, the old paper of the Independent Labour Party.

There's some gems in 'ere, and it seems to me history seems to repeat itself, or perhaps people have just been airing the same concerns for many years - like this 'ere snippit for instance:

"OUT WITH THE LABOUR PARTY - IN WITH SOCIALISM
The year 1966 has revealed the Labour Party in its true colours, pale pink defenders of the Capitalist way of life. It must be a very myopic Socialist that still claims that the way to Socialism is through the Labour Party.

..... The Left-Wing M.P.s are helpless. The Labour Party leaders treat them with contempt. Socialists must accept the fact that it is impossible to change the Labour Party. History shows that time and time again the Labour Party saves Capitalism when the system is in crisis. Socialism for the Labour Party leaders is a mythology used by them to hoodwink the rank and file of the Labour Party.

The Independent Labour Party broke away from the Labour Party in 1932. It did so because it recognised that the Labour Party had no intention of fighting Capitalism. The following thirty-four years have demonstrated the truth of the ILP stand.

The trade union movement created the Labour Party to protect its interests in Parliament. This same Labour Party now imposes conditions and sanctions upon them which no Tory government would ever have dared.

It is true to say that ever growing numbers of rank and file members of trade unions and the Labour Party are bewildered by the course the Labour Movement is taking. If they still want Socialism to replace Capitalism then they should consider joining a Socialist Party. Make a New Year resolution - TO JOIN THE INDEPENDENT LABOUR PARTY".
(Socialist Leader, Industrial Review section, No 3, January 1967/before I were born!! just!!)

When did you leave the Labour Party Duckett and why. What are your thoughts and memories of the Independent Labour Party in Burnley and Nelson. Do you know of any in the ILP who shifted towards anarchism as time went on?

Also, Duckett I found a bit of a queer piece in this 'ere Anarchy - A Journal of anarchist Ideas published by Freedom Press in the 1960s. This 'ere Tony Gibson, in Anarchy 12, Feb 1962 said this (titter),

"The typical anarchist may be described as a man imbued with the spirit of revolt in one or several of its phases (the spirit of combativeness, of inquiry, of criticism, of innovation), endowed with a deep love of liberty, and with a strong leaning to individualism, and possessed of an insatiable curiosity and a keen desire to acquire knowledge. These mental qualities are accompanied by a warm affection for his fellow creatures, a highly developed moral sensibility, a profound sense of justice, a sense of logic, and strong combative tendencies."

Is this a good description of yaself 'ere Duckett? Titter.

I've several copies of Black & Red Outlook, monthly paper of the Anarchist Syndicalist Alliance as well. Why was this called Black and Red?

We still wait with baited breath Duckett reports on Burnley Wood activist toga parties, and a so called very mischievous activist, who, reports have it, was called 'The Pig' by his wife.

I hasten to add, Duckett, that this is quite normal. I for one call my current lover man 'Arse'. It suits him well - titter.

look forward to next report. tara for now. ;D

[Aeneas]

CND Club and the Bar-be-que

We wer sat ther like a bank of bottles and no one spoke for a long minute. A HUNARD POUNDS? Well yes, the committee man went red, ye'v never paid any rent this year.
We've only just bin elected said fred. Well, maybe so but other t'committee pay'd nowt. Went bolshies had left committee it wer fred ant anarchists who'd kept things going, we'd paid , then bert the committe man had presented ther demands £100.00s. We'll ave to pay it sed fred.He didn't know it but ther wer another bill int pipe lines £47.00 to CND region fort subs. It wer her from Simonstone who broke silence, (it ad to be,) I know how we can raise sum of it, she said.How, asked fred? She told him.

He choked over 'is shandy.No you can't.Emma Goldman did,she flashed back ,so why not us? If werd got out you wer sellin yoursel what would peple say. ?Anyhow it never worked they'd to give it up, ther wer no takers.Well! I could try. Luckily other suggestions took converstaion away, collections, jumble sales and concerts. Ther wer a terrible racket going on int background."I love ya,yay, yay,.There, said girl from Simonstone, everybodies at it .Except us,said chairman.It wer a group from Clitheroe, they wer at'n audition int club. Ask them, said fred, play on Wednesdays, here for us. What'l we give em said Simonstone? It wert little girl from Accrington who said it, ya body, the's a room at bottom that they use for plays, it's empty. They agreed to play on Wednesdays, but wanted half profits from't door.That wern't too bad, we'd only got about ten customers tut gramophone gig as it wer called . We opened on Mondays for poetry readings, yer own or somat you liked from a book and on thursdays we had meetings and speakers, debates and discussions. But we had problems wit committee ot club. Every week we ad visits from committee man bert, fred wer wanted upstairs. First of all they didn't like younger members of CND drinking.! Righto said fred ,don't sell'em ale.Then they were worried about dress code. Ye god's! Younger ones dressed as they wanted to.Why not if ther parents didn't bother why should we? Well, said committee, we find it a problem. They're over sixteen said fred, thing is if you don't like it, don't look!. Best wer one night when a different member ot committee came down, they were at it, right then int room at end ot corrider, he insisted fred came an ad a look. Fred went, we all did, it wer better nat pictures.Miss Simonstone an Bert ,committee man were at it like blazes.you could hear at top at stairs! Don't go, said fred we'll believe it. Who is it said her from accrington, never mind said fred we'll see to it. We new who it wer, but it wer not our business, bloody hell!
It wer one at Catterall brothers who suggested an all night barbque.After a long arguement it wer agreed.Fred got a hut out int country an we catered for a hunnert people and sold seventy tickets. Ont day we all turned up and fred said you take door, catteralls take fire and cooking an I'll do tother. It went well people turned up, group wer playing for half ot takings if we didn't earn enough money to pay em. (They wer doing well an had even made records. ) It wer all going well whent girl from Accrington came int office to fred.Just tek a look fromt window,she sed. Why wat is it, he asked? It wer dark and light just covered a little spot just outside office,where snacks wer.He looked at a couple wer at it. Bloody hell, said fred.Nowt to do wi us! He wer adamant. Yes it is sed girl from accrington, it's broken. What, said fred.That concrete top ,said girl. They'll fall in't septic tank an drown. Fred wen't out an round back.It wer simonstone and andy from't club. He stood ther an was embarrassed. He spoke but they couldn't hear im, wot wi't group and fire an allt people passing thend. He got hold of her big toe, he wer fastidious, an shook it. What is it , wat is it? she said yer'll have to waite your turn.Get off he said ,bloody things breaking.It wer bouncin ,ah no that!Just then I wer passin, what are you doing here, wher's money ,is it safe? I took it out o mi pocket ,I have it ere.He wer astonished, thers a thousand people ther, didn't you charge em? I told, no, I dassn't they wer drunk. Just then fire roard ant crown cheered.It wer then he noticed long line o cars stretching up road and that all fencing ad gone. He looked shocked. It were then Colin Catterall appeared, fred, ther's a copper here to see you. Can't you deal wi him, said fred? Well your chair, colin said ,I will if yer want. No said fred, come wi me he said to me
We went out on field.It wer 10 acres o bedlam. crowds wer round fire dancin or listening tot group, they wer playing tOuse ot Rising son.It were appropriate, I can tell yer. Every body had a bottle, wher have they come from. When did they come, it wer fromt pubs wen they closed ah said. Polis came, he wer an elderly man, about 50 or so. Everything alright he asked? He ignored crowd going past carringt hen coit, wit hen squawking an fluttering about, they wer fromt small holding up road. Lanndscape wer bare, all fences had gone ,road wer littered as far as eye can see wi cars,some wi lights on others int dark. How long you goin on said polis?He wer friendly, as long as ther wer no drink or fighting? He wer sensible, ther wer no time for fighting, everyone wer doing something else. Two wer doing something unspeakable overt bonnet of a car and some others wer laughing at em. Everybody had a bottle an yer couldn't put your foot on grass without stepping on an empty bottle or a busy couple. Fred ad had enough, ah could tell. He wer never very strong an it told. Just them Simonstone an andy came.Was it you round ther she said, ave you no sense of propriety? She'd a fine turn o phrase! I'll give her that. You could ave fell hin he said tops broken.Why didn't you tell me? I tried he sed wearily, but you wer busy. Well yud better come an see, she said, thev taken allt doors from lavatories.All ten, he wer wilting, he looked frail and he kept lucking round, ah think he wer looking for somewhere to have is nervous breakdown or coronary. He wern't rite strong. We went up,it wer true all wer open to world. Ther wer a woman in one, do you always watch things like this are you a pervert.?It wert polis I said. Simonston came up then and said close it up. How? said fred, just tell em, polis said we'd to close an they'd all to be gone in alfanour.So we did it.We expected trouble, but they'd noticed polis and car wi a light, theyd had a good time an they were tired. In alf an our they'd gone an by ten next morning wed cleared most at bottles up tot destructors on Aqueduct street.Four vehicles full. We'd made an enormous loss an next time fred wer called to Committee room, it wer about our subletting room on friday, we had to because ot damages wed to pay, he told them I'm giving notice. And CND club folded. It wern't a loss.We ran an interesting experiment.Politically and socially we'd made our mark.

An episode taken from the ramblings of Francis Ducket in the Re-habilitation Centre at Norwich when he was on a "DRYOUT." He thanked everyone for their cards and said the spirits and ale was very much appreciated. Don't give it to the staff, bring it straight in, was his request.

[michele cryer]

Fred et al. we need lots more of these stories please!!!!