Hope Over Elland

According to my Little Oxford Dictionary, the definition of "wandering" is to aimlessly move from place to place in a casual fashion. That being the case, I declare myself a wanderer, indeed I will consider putting that down as my religion when the census forms arrive in a few weeks time. The Lockdown places a severe … Continue reading Hope Over Elland

The Socialist Matrons Of Brighouse

Someone was saying to me the other day that they had just been to a Labour Party meeting (virtually, of course) and it had seemed terribly old fashioned - like something from the nineteen seventies. That's nothing, said I in the way only annoying old men can, when I was a lad, Labour Party meetings … Continue reading The Socialist Matrons Of Brighouse

A Waste Of Time

Throughout my life I have experimented with psychogeography (the non-structured exploration of urban environments by chance). As a child, some 65 years ago, my father and I would often go to Halifax Bus Station and catch the first bus that was leaving to "see where it took us". Ten or more years ago, I embarked … Continue reading A Waste Of Time

Somebody’s Short Of A Happy New Year

I am a man of simple tastes. As far as food is concerned, all I ask for is a fried egg and a plate of chips. In the drinks department, you can cast me adrift with a crate of pale ale and a bottle or two of single malt whisky, and I would complain to … Continue reading Somebody’s Short Of A Happy New Year

Free Insurance For The Coming Year

There is nothing like the 1st of January appearing on the calendar to start a rush of New Year Resolutions. I suspect I have now lived long enough to realise that - if you are going to turn over a new leaf, or set out on a new and better trajectory through life - it … Continue reading Free Insurance For The Coming Year

Teeth

A welcome Christmas present from the British Newspaper Archives - they have finally got around to making a start on digitising back copies of the Brighouse and Rastrick Gazette. Three full years are already available - 1881,1882 and 1889 - so there is plenty to keep my occupied during the coming Merry Little Christmas. Perhaps I … Continue reading Teeth

The Whole, Neatly Furnished

"The new Cemetery is situated in Lighteliffe Road, and contains an area of about nine acres. The frontage towards the above-named road is enlosed with a atone wall and also ornamental wrought-iron railings, and has two wells for water, one for domestic purposes, and the other for the use of cattle..... The buildings include the … Continue reading The Whole, Neatly Furnished

Anti-Vaxxers Take To The Streets Of Wyke

I have been cranking up the random news generator again, and today it has taken me back to the 6th August 1887, and a report in the pages of the Brighouse Echo which, once again, proves that there is little new happening in the world. It tells the case of a certain Sam Kellet, a … Continue reading Anti-Vaxxers Take To The Streets Of Wyke

Sounds Familiar

BRIGHOUSE NEWS : SATURDAY JUNE 26 1880 With nothing much to do other than read old newspapers, I found this article in a copy of the local Brighouse News from exactly 140 years ago. It was a report by the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Britton, on efforts being taken to combat the outbreak of scarlet … Continue reading Sounds Familiar