I went up to Barrow again this week to sort  some family and commercial business for LRU and took the trusty camera with me . Although I love the place to bits it has now got to the stage where I feel a stranger with all the changes that are happening now  . It was good to catch up with old mates including new member COLIN FRANCE--Gawd mate you aren't half  turning into your dad ----Lots of laughs and a touch of sadness as one of our old crowd had passed away some time ago .In a flash it was time to come back to my OSWALDTWISTLE home as again I left my HEART in Barrow ....Our Barrow members can take a look at the photos with some buildings and areas  you may not have seen before by clicking on this link as can anyone else and see why we BARROVIANS  LOVE BARROW so much .

http://www.lancashirereunited.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=108 

  No matter where in the world you are, when you hear the Lancashire accent you know there is going to be a sincere, warm Lancashire welcome and a friend made forever and my trip back to my home town of Accrington in Lancashire was no exception.

I was bringing my 84 year old dad back home to his beloved Lancashire to meet all his friends and family again after 12 years and what a wonderful welcome we got. I was a little apprehensive, as it's a long way from Kent and dad is not as fit as he once was but I had no need to worry, he was a changed man.

They say you should never go back, never try to turn back the hands of time, don't believe "them" we did turn back the hands of time, if only for a brief moment. Dad was a kid again, remembering playing Robin Hood in the fields where he was born in Hapton with Robert Worrell, his school friend from over 70 years ago and who we both had the privilege to talk to via a web link to Canada his daughter Valerie and I set up for them ,just before Robert died. He showed me the house he was born in, where his grandmother lived and so much more. I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful man for a dad.

Accrington is the same but different, the same because of the ghosts of our family who walked the same streets as we were doing but different because of change, changes that are not always for the best, unfortunately, but I suppose necessary.  We visited cemeteries where dad's family were buried, his grandparents and parents, which I am glad we did because although dad shed a tear, it brought him closer to them after all those years.

To me one of the highlights of the visit was to the Whitewell Inn on a beautiful sunny Sunday lunchtime, to me that is Lancashire, Gods Country, the Queen isn't silly, she picked the best to own, and I also found out the Queen, on her last visit to Whitewell was given the very room I stayed in, No. 6, if you ever get to stay in the Inn make sure you ask for No 6 it overlooks the river Hodder and the most beautiful countryside you will not find another equal to anywhere in the world.

  On Friday night we had a party for dad, with all his friends and family around us, and what a memorable night that was, something to keep and treasure for the rest of our lives. John Earnshaw from Lancashire reunited and his wife honoured us by attending, and it was like meeting an old friends, he and his wife are absolutely charming people. The folk group "Trouble at Mill" went beyond the call of duty by playing the whole night for dad, although they were only suppose to be there one hour, they started off with the song,
Ee I'm glad to see a mon like thee and ended with Auld Lang syne where everyone stood and linked hands with dad in a big circle, wonderful, truly wonderful.

My childhood school friends were there, Linda Bentley (Bentlegs) and Gillian Yale who I hadn't seen in just over 50 years, you would never have known it though, Gillian told me a wonderful secret I want to share with you although she will kill me for doing so but I want to show you what a true friend is. She said I always had more money than her and bought her chips and she wanted to do the same for me so she stole some money and bought me a bag of chips in return, now how greater friend can you have that would steal for you, needless to say she got in terrible trouble for it, we were only very young. Sorry Gillian but you are the bestust of friends and the world should know it.

My dear, dear friend Linda, old bentlegs, the sister I never had, we were out for a meal and the restaurant owner said she thought we were sisters, oh boy, I was so proud.  No one in the world could have two friends like mine, I am very proud I can call them friends after all this time.
There were just a few people missing, if only my mother, granddad, grandma and auntie could have been there, they would have been so proud, but I am sure they were there in spirit.

What else can I say, only that I miss my wonderful homeland, as I know dad does, but as I said earlier things move on, and for me they did move on to a wonderful husband despite him being a "southern softy", and to Kent, but I am training him well as he has come to love my Lancashire as much as I do and brings me back as much as possible and I love him for that. I have even got him talking Lanky with the odd words here and there, just give me a little more time and you will never know he is southern.

All that is really left to say, is if you were born and bred in Lancashire and you have the opportunity to go back, grab it with both hands, you won?t be disappointed.
They will welcome you with open arms, I can guarantee that.
When I get the chance I will put a video together of my memories of Accrington
Till then my heart is with you Lancashire
Sheila and of course dad a true Lancashire lad now and always 

Pictured top --Dad Cyril (Who Sheila is immensely proud of ) holds the Wallace Trickett Accrington bus print and also Sheila pictured with John at last years event  

When I appear on Radio Programmes to talk about this site I always seem to get asked the same question --What is is about Lancashire that makes people remanise so much . I suppose its because we all have happy memories about the Town we live or lived in .

The town I grew up in Barrow In Furness is going through a lot of changes with a NEW MUTLI MILLION POUND  MARIANA and business park soon to be built and a marketing campaign -The logo of which seems to have ended up in Blackburn.

What are your happiest memories of the town you grew up in --People ,Places and buildings --Please share them with us  by adding --YOUR COMMENTS  so the  next time I am on the Radio I can explain it in your words as to why  you love your town and LANCASHIRE  .

As I finshed uploading this to the site our MEMBER C--ROLY --from Barrow e-mailed me to tell me of a funtion he and his wife attened he wrote

May  I mention that the wife and I attended the closing night at the Railway club on the Strand in Barrow last night ( SUNDAY ) . This has been one of our watering holes for the last few decades the wife being on the committee there. About 40 of us had a good night but there was an obvious feeling of sadness. It has been a Lancashire cell to a lot of us, and was decorated with red rose flags and notices. 

John Says

I have many happy memories of that club and others and also the HARBOUR public house across the road (Best pint ever tasted and many nurses chased --The old hospital was just up the road ) . Many of the Working mens clubs are closing  taking with them not just memories but the characters who frequented them  

As the sun is breaking the flags here in East Lancashire ( SORRY CANT SAY THAT NOW ITS---PENNINE LANCASHIRE  but thats another story )  I thought I would nip out for a walk and I took the Camera out with me. Some BIG changes will soon be happening in Accrington so I thought I had better capture the old before the new appears . I was also presently surprised to see a building that has been some what dilapidated for years coming back to life and wonder if our Accy Members remember it in its hayday .As with ALL PHOTOS TO VEIW IN FULL SIZE RIGHT CLICK YOUR MOUSE AND CLICK ---VEIW IMAGE --Then to come back to this page click on the BACK ARROW on your browser .

BLACKBURN RD BATHED IN SUNSHINE AND THE FLOWER TUBS IN FULL BLOOM 

Recognize the veiw ---The scene of THE WALLACE TRICKETT ACCRINGTON BUS PRINT as it is today ---This area is due to be transformed into a new town sqaure when a new bus station is build in Crawshaw St 

Building work about to begin on a NEW RAILWAY STATION for Accrington.

When finished it will boast new waiting rooms and an education center and be the most eco friendly in the country generating its own power using wind energy .

The former council offices next to the Railway station are about to be bulldozed to make way for a massive new Tesco store 

Luxurious living in the heart of Accrington the new WATERSIDE development now complete on the site of the Former Railway line at the old PLATTS LODGE

Another View of the new  Waterside  apartments  in the foreground is an old pillar which used to be part of the Railway bridge over the Lodge Pond

Now the photo I need help with . I believe this building in Richmond Road  was once a church . It has remained derelict for years but is now being brought back to life bricked up windows are being replaced with New windows and its had a sandblasting and I am lead to believe theres is a fanatic molded plaster and artistically  painted ceiling inside  , Do any of our Accrington members remember it  

 More Photos of Accrington can be seen by clicking on this link 

  Our day ( Sunday 13 July )had started early and while I was in the kitchen cooking our large Sunday breakfast I could here the wife shouting  JOHN COME AND LOOK AT THIS --wondering if the lottery numbers had come up from the night before I dashed through to the front room to see a hot air balloon raising from the back of the street opposite.

Now at this point I thought I must get this on camera so rushed about finding it and aimed it at the balloon ready to take the shot when WHAM ----The Battery had run out ---so scrambling like a mad demented fool trying to change them with the balloon going over our roof top I finally did it only to take the shot just as it was disappearing from view ---This then set the tone for the day .

After breakfast and washing up we departed up the M6 to the Grizdale forest in the LAKE DISTRICT and a walk along the SALURIAN WAY a 10mile walk I had not done for 24 years . Now the thing that hits  you most of all is the shear peace and tranquility of this marvelous place and the after reaching the highest point on such a clear day was the extraordinary beauty of the views  I wish I had taken the camera .

After 4 hours of walking we decided as we were near Barrow to take a ride over to the Furness peninsula  to see family etc and went down the Coastal route via Ulverston and Bardsea and stopped for an  Ice cream the view over Morcambe Bay was the clearest I have seen for some time and you could clearly see Blackpool tower and even the stricken ship Riverdance .

So after the quick visits  over to Biggar Bank on Walney Island  and another walk I hadn't done for some time again the views over to the Isle of man where stunning . We left to make our way home Via  Ulverston to see another family member  only to decide to have a walk up another beauty spot at BIRKRIGG COMMON.

Now this is the jewel in the crown of our fine Palatine county  from where on a clear day like it was  one could see the magnificence  of the Furness fells and the Lakeland peaks and then moving in a 360 degree circle ---the whole of Morecambe Bay then THE WHOLE COASTLANE OF LANCASHIRE ---Onward to WALES and still looking around and seeing the ISLE OF MAN -----Truly breathtaking and soul uplifting . I could only give one little piece  of advise on a day like this ---DON'T FORGET TO TAKE YOUR CAMERA and MAKE SURE THE BATTERIES AIN'T FLAT.  

The sale of  WALLACE TRICKETTS LANCASHIRE  Bus prints which are for sale EXCLUSIVE TO THIS SITE--See LRU SHOP for updated  list of  those which are currently available ) -- continues to gather pace .

The reactions from those who have purchased these wonderful pieces of artwork has been fantastic and it is so gratifying to have you e-mail me saying how pleased you are not only with the prints but how smooth the transactions  have been and how they arrived in one piece  as they are well protected and packaged , as well as receiving this photo of JOAN PEART in AUSTRIALIA with her print which holds special memories for her . Like my dad Joan's was also a driver for B.C.T. and this print has bought back so much of her childhood in Barrow .

I am now in the process of sorting out a display and order forms for the totally Transport event in Blackpool on the 22nd June  which is turning into a family affair as my wife and daughter are going to be helping me  which I am over the moon  about  and thank them for there support so why not pop along if you fancy agreat day out and have a chat with me and also PENNY BLACK . I will be outside the .Solaris building ( The one with the NEW WINDMILLS on  the front on the prom at SOUTH SHORE) . Then another  TRANSPORT  festival on SUNDAY 20th JULY ---TRAM SUNDAY IN FLEETWOOD wedged in betweem the PENNY BLACK CONCERTS at OSWALDTWISTLE MILLS .

  Wallace Trickett is working overtime at the minute to finish some more paintings off for the event as well as other artworks which will be available for sale as prints for ------CHRISTMAS  . These will  feature amongst others  wagons and buses    from

  I have come across photos showing towns in LANCASHIRE as they appeared in days gone by and as they are now and wonder if any of you can recognize where they are taken  . This one taken in 1960 shows a railway line which is no longer there so I also wonder if anyone knows which line it is and where it goes to and came from . Answer to where it is if no one gets it next week --

Those of you using FIREFOX can enlarge the picture by RIGHT CLICKING your mouse and then click VIEW IMAGE