Dad (George 1900 Hoyle Mill, Barnsley) was very much like Grandad in that
he was quiet and reserved, he was also very kind but did his good deeds discretely. They were both alike physically quite big but no fast at all
probably because of their jobs, in fact Dad used to put on about a stone when we
were on holiday.
| George
born 1900 Barnsley
|
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George was
posthumously
awarded the
George Medal |
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Dad started work at a local glass works in the office, but as was quite common,
when he wanted more money he had to leave and went into the pit - Barnsley Main,
with his father. When this happened it was the first world war and I've
never been sure whether he went into the pits instead of the army or chose
himself to do this. I do know that Grandma didn't want either him or Uncle
Edward to be miners but they both did about that time.
I think that at that time they worked in gangs, the ganger being Grandad,
and he got the pay for them all and sorted it out. As soon as dad started
he did the reckoning up and this went on right up to his death as every one
trusted him and knew that his arithmetic was perfect. Although Dad left
school at about 13 he was marvellous at maths particularly mental
arithmetic. He also could play the piano, nothing difficult, but he
managed to play hymns at chapel and he only had lessons for three months from
Novella (cousin). He loved music particularly choral.
My first memories of dad were riding on the crossbar of his bike, going into the
woods and collecting sand for the sand pit he made for us. He was a very
good decorator, our house always looked different to everyone else's even when we
lived in a council house and they were all build alike. he was a very good
gardener and won prizes when we lived at Kendray. When Grandma and Grandad
had the big garden at the pub, dad spent a lot of time doing their garden.
he could do anything in the house including cooking and used to help mother a
lot so that they could go out together when he was on nights. He always
worked afternoons or night shifts he didn't like days. He had a heavy job
but didn't seem to need a lot of sleep, he could sleep anywhere and often put a
cushion on the floor and slept in front of the fire.
He followed Barnsley football club as you probably know and took your Dad (Jack
1926) with him from being very young.
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Jack born 1926
son of George
1900
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He was also a cricket lover and used
to get up early to listen to tests from Australia on the radio.
His hobbies apart from gardening, sport and decorating for anybody that asked him
were mostly concerned with chapel, he did everything except preach. He was
Sunday School Leader, Choirmaster, Caretaker, Treasurer and Steward. he
kept all the books immaculately and I suspect put money in without telling
anybody.
He had a very sweet tooth and would even have buns after his breakfast, he could
eat an awful lot but didn't eat much before or during his work he took water or
cold tea and jam and bread for his SNAP. I expect this was because he
worked in very low seams, just crawling about in places no higher than a table
and damp as well. Its dreadful to think of it but it was so common in
Barnsley you didn't think much about it.
Although Dad didn't drink or smoke he wasn't sanctimonious about it and didn't preach about it to others. He worked with some of the roughest men in the
area but they all respected him and at the inquest when he died one of the men
said to Uncle George "You know he wasn't like us at all but he just used to
say he'd go his way and it was up to us what we did" or words to that
effect.
I should think that Dad had a happy childhood. Most of Grandma Dorlings
family lived in Hoyle Mill and although they were poor and lived in pretty bad
housing they were a very warm close family and all dad's Aunts were very fond of
him as he was the eldest of their nephews." |
