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
Hi Sheila,
My Dad would be so 'chuffed' that your Dad took the time to remember him. He was so happy to speak with Cyril via webcam etc. and was happy that we (you & I) had become such good friends.
As you know Dad died soon after they spoke but not before,
1) our pal Roland Drinkwater visited Hapton took photo's and uploaded them on his site for our Dad's.
2) I went home (from Canada) and took video of Hapton and many other places in Britain, and messages from members of our family and many friends including your Dad.
We did it because we all knew Dad could never fly again (CH&LD)and I wanted him to have a last visit....
Dad was very pleased.
I am glad for you & Cyril that he was able to make this visit and that he has the memories to visit at will.
Good on you Sheila.
My heart is in Lancashire too by the way.
Valerie
A beautiful story Sheila. It is so true about a Lanky accent, mine has had the edges rubbed off it over time - but my ears are still tuned in to it!!
As you say, you should do it if you can, you are a bit closer to me though. But it is on my to do list when I win the Big One. Fingers crossed.
Sheelagh (aust.)
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