"The majority of the people were employed in the cotton mill. They were like slaves. My father was a shuttle tip forger. I can remember from being 5 years old living in Bamford Road; our cottage was in a hollow and was surrounded by Irish people. I remember one girl with a very good voice and a lady who used to give us marmalade butties and if we did not eat them we would get the crack.

"In 1914, we moved across road opposite. We thought we were posh, it was a very poor district.

"I remember the First World War and remember the Zeppelin going over. My eldest brother was working in a shuttle shop with my father. I had to take the tea about 7:00 pm. I was scared stiff. One night there was a knock at the door. My mother had gone to see Charlie Chaplin. We were all terrified to go to the door. We went and saw a woman with a gas mask on and it terrified us!

"On bonfire night, all the people used to have straw mattresses. As big as biscuits and 6 inches thick. There was no disinfectant then so people used to burn the mattresses. I remember one lady giving me a toffee apple in payment for taking her mattress to be burnt.

"Near our house there was a big chimney, belonging to a factory who made dishcloths. In morning you could tell time from the hooters from the factory.

"We later moved round the corner when I was about 11. At this time my eldest brothers wife died whilst giving birth. It was a sad time. She left my mother to bring up her three young children. At 14, I started work opposite where I lived in the cotton factory after leaving catholic school. I was extremely glad to leave Catholic school because it was far too strict. If you were late, especially in the winter, you had to sit in the cloakroom with our hands on the pipes to warm them because we knew what were in for it from the Headmaster - the Stick across our hands. Our hands were blue and numb.

"In the factory where I worked, on first entering I could smell oil and sweat, and felt the heat on my face. The noise was unbearable. I stripped off to my shirt ad overalls, taking off my shirt and socks because it was easier to work in bare feet, the floors were covered in oil.

"I worked at first as a doffer, this job entailed keeping all ring frames clear of full bobbins and replacing them with empty bobbins. I worked in this factory until I was 19 earning 16 shillings and 5 pence for a 48 hour week, with pay rises. I transferred to other parts of the factory earning up to 26 shillings a week. The air condition in this factory was very poor, there was no ventilation to clear the dust. The workers inhaled the dust day in day out.

"In the 1920's the Lancashire Cotton Corporation demolished 28 cotton mills in my area due to the work depression. This was due to cotton mill machinery being sent abroad and taking our work. No work was available, most people were unemployed; it was so bad that I used to go out every morning looking for work in nearby towns, I eventually got a job in a mill which had been kept open. I worked on this job for 12 months until it closed down. There was no dole money, we sold what we had or pawned things to survive. Next job I had was at a foundry making boilers, I was paid 30 shillings per week but this only lasted 8 weeks. Not really having much of a social life while I was younger, I enjoyed dances in the town.

"I had a very good friend called Dennis, best pal I ever had. Always being short of money and both wanting to go to the Trade Hall dance he pawned his watch for 2 shillings and sixpence. Other outings included country walks and camping in huts and tents. I can remember clogs being worn by everyone. My feet were always warm and I often made my own clogs from old army boots and wooden soles. After a while country walks became boring, having no money was a terrible experience. I approached the dole office and was sent on a course to Croydon, to do joinery. I lodged with a family in the town. The course lasted 12 months. I then got a job in Romford as a joiner, by this time I was 22 years of age. This did not last long, so I went back home. Soon after, I worked in Birmingham. All this time Marian, my future wife, had visited me all around the country. Eventually we married and settled in Birmingham

"I then received word of a job in Bury, we packed up and moved. My job was in the timber yard. I worked there for many years during which our children were born. When our first son was 2 years of age I was called to join the RAF . I can remember this time quite clearly because my mother had just died. I was posted abroad it was also the time my wife was expecting our second child. I was away for 15 months in Egypt and Libya, in the same convoy as the Duke of Gloucester. I was demobbed from Libya In 1945 at the end of the second world war, and I was sent home.

"My children were very hostile towards me because of the time I had been away but that soon changed as time went on. Work was still hard to find so I travelled for any job anywhere. It was very hard for me because I had not served an apprenticeship so I was unable to join the Union. At this time we were very settled in Bury, living in Brook Street then moving to Parsonage Street near to Marian's mother so she could look after our 2 sons while Marian worked.

"Our children were growing up very fast and years were passing by. I can remember historical events such as the death of the Duke of Kent, the abdication of the Prince of Wales, the crowning of our present Queen and also the ending of the Second World War. I can also remember prisoners of War, rebuilding damaged buildings and roads.

"My life has been very hard and I have experienced more than most. I often read local newspapers advertising jobs, and wonder how young people of today, would have coped in my day.

"Today everything has changed and I am very pleased. I am very happy and contented and proud of my past and present life, even with serious illnesses that have come my way.

"We have celebrated our Diamond Wedding Anniversary and have received our Telegram from the Queen. Our 2 sons have been very successful people and our 4 grandchildren are extremely well educated all with very good jobs. We are both very grateful."