Forty years ago this week the members of class 3E put their laboratory brat stools up on to the science benches and filed out of room C1, and out of the sixties at Cannock Grammar School.
It was 3.35 in the afternoon, and night had fallen over the coalfields. The air was crisp. Frozen snow crunched under the soles of our General Purpose Tuf school shoes.
Because of the slippery conditions, we missed the 3.45 Number 17, whose tail was disappearing past the Technical College. I was going to be late for my Express & Star newspaper round.
"Doe worry, Mairte. We'll goo an' treat ourselves to some Pick 'n Mix down Woolies. Ah'll gi' yer a nand deliverin' the pairpers after."
Kev led the way through The Arcade, pausing only to cast a critical eye over the Mamod steam engines in the toy emporium. The smell of roast chicken radiated with the warmth from the Barbecue Shop opposite.
"Thar'll never ketch on Al. Ten bob fer a roasted chickin when yer Mom can cook one at 'um..."
Across the town centre was Woolworth's.
"Tat an' treasure, Mairte".
My companion pushed open the swinging doors.
We walked into Cannock's retail hot-spot, counted the pre-decimal coppers after removing green blazer fluff, and headed for the Pick 'n Mix...
"It's always packed in here, Kev, ay it" I said, counting in a Bubbly, five Flying Saucers and some liquorice shoe laces.
"Are. Always wull be an' all, Boy Wonder. Yoe car beat Woolies for a bargin. Come on, we've just got time ter look through the records"...
"Let's walk down past the Picture House instead, Kev. They'm playin' that Rolf Harris record over the'er, an' it drives me soft. Paul's workin' on a better version, he to'd me this afternoon. 'e promised it'll be ready for when we goo back ter school in January."
"Con do. Am yoe gunner eat all o' them flyin saucers?"
And with that, we stepped out into the Christmas air of the pavement, balancing briefcases in one hand, and a bag of "sook" in the other.
Now click on the Woolworth's pic for a Christmas present from Mitch Benn.
0 comments:
Post a Comment