Memories of Childhood
by John Appleby

~ 11 ~

When my brother and I contracted whooping cough, we were taken on trembling legs to the gasworks. There, after talk with the man in charge, we were suspended above an open vessel of some sort to inhale the pungent fumes from the hot coaltar or some such stuff.

One summer day a sandcastle competition had been organised by, I think, the Evening Chronicle. The sun shone and a little knot of officials arranged the marking out on the hard sand in squares. Each child was allotted a square and the clock was set - I believe there were colourful banners and crowds of onlookers. There must have been some parental input since elaborate things were attempted. I imagine that none of the bairns went home empty handed. I seem to remember also a club for children run by Uncle Nick, called the Gloopers club. I think there must have been a Gloops cartoon in the Chronicle. At any rate, we all wore Gloops badges pinned to our jerseys.

© 2003 John Appleby, New Zealand

All enquiries for editorial and content should be directed to the webmaster, Jason Thompson on enquiry@newbigginbythesea.co.uk.