Looking Back: Sheffield Girl - The First 19¾ YEARS

HOLIDAY IN BLACKPOOL

We are going to Blackpool, first week in August, which I am really looking forward to. Singer, Lorrae Desmond, is staying at the Grand this week, she is very pretty and dainty, and really nice. There's a very handsome young man with her, I think he is her pianist. He teases me all the time. They both sit in the lounge and he keeps staring at me and winking, suddenly, he came over and asked me for a dance! A few minutes later, he came and asked me for a kiss, then he came over to ask me for a date - I think Lorrae may have something to do with his mischievous behaviour...She asked me if I would like to go to the Empire to see the show, I would, but unfortunately, I can't go.

Saturday, August 3rd - Mum and Dad, Barbara, Mavis and me, all set off to catch the train for our holiday in Blackpool. Last week in July and first week in August are known as 'works weeks', the factories shut down for their annual holiday, consequently there are people everywhere. We stood on the wrong platform for 2 hours!! Then we have to stand all the way, as the train is packed to the gunnels. It seems as though everyone is going to spend their holiday in Blackpool!

We have one room in a lodging house, which is divided down the middle by a curtain. Mum and Dad sleep on one side and we three girls on the other; it is just a little bit cramped...

From the number of people here, Blackpool would appear to be bursting at the seams and before our week's holiday is up, we girls will make lots of new friends - all male!

As we walk along the promenade, there are lots of free shows, mostly young men with guitars and swivelly hips, all trying to be like Elvis Presley or Tommy Steele. 'Singing The Blues', and 'Butterfly' are the popular hits of the moment. Hylda Baker is in a show here and so is Tommy Steele, also Bob Monkhouse. I got the biggest surprise of my life when I saw Arthur working on the rifle range in the amusement park! Went to chat to him, asked me to go and get a glass of beer for him, but despite trying to pretend that I am older than my sixteen years, they will not sell me any. I have to go back to Arthur empty handed, feeling rather foolish.

There are street photographers everywhere, and we girls have lots of photos taken. (Very poor quality black and white photos, so typical of the period.)

We meet a crowd of boys at a juke box, they are all on holiday together, and are lodging just a bit further down the road from us. We take lots of photos of each other and arrange to meet at the jukebox later in the day. Hoped to meet them in the evening to go dancing, but wasn't allowed to go. We meet up again during the week, I am getting on well with Jim, and we exchange addresses. For a laugh, the boys have decided to sleep out on the beach tonight, it sounds like a lot of fun, I would love to go too. They are going to light bonfires and sing and dance all through the night. But I know there is no point in asking if I can go too.

There are Rock'n Roll dancing competitions on the sea front every day, whilst watching, a young man asked me to dance, and found that we jived well together. His name is Peter, and we arrange to meet up before the competition tomorrow to get in a bit of practice. To our delight, we are amongst half a dozen couples who are chosen to take part in the finals at the end of the week, we agree to meet up every day to improve our chances. But I have decided that I like Jim the best and would rather meet up with him and his pals at 'our' jukebox. I never saw Peter again, anyway, I didn't rate our dancing that much.

It's the last night of our holiday, we girls have met up with the boys, and we all stroll along the promenade, which is crowded with happy people. Jim and I go off on our own; we lose all sense of time, because evenings don't end until the dawn. It seems Mum and Dad have been looking for me everywhere...and I get it in the neck all the way home, the next day, and the next...Never-the-less, it has been a lovely holiday, and I dread having to go back to work. This week it is Lorna's turn to go on holiday.

What a surprise, got a letter from Jim already - says he's missing me! I shall write straight back to him.

12th August 1957 - Went to see 'Personality Platters' at the Empire this week. Unlike 'Disc Doubles', these are people who can sing just like the real artist, Dick Francis, who impersonates Frank Sinatra, gets the most applause. Another letter from Jim! A new comi waiter has started in the restaurant called Peter, I would like to get to know him. The holiday photographs have arrived - they're great! The Kentones, popular singing group are here this week, so is Donald Peers, he's my Mum's favourite singer. (He had a big hit with 'By a Babbling Brook').

We had terrific weather for our holiday at the beginning of August, but now, at the end, it has taken a turn for the worse - very wet and windy. I hope it improves, as Maurice and Jan are getting married at the end of September. Mavis, Barbara, two of Jan's cousins and myself, are to be bridesmaids. We will be wearing short, pastel coloured dresses in organza. Mine is blue, Barbara's turquoise, Mavis's pink and the other two girls are in blue and pink. Jan is making her dress herself in white brocade, it is long and elegant. I'm really looking forward to it! Went in dress shop to try on bridesmaids dresses and got quite a shock; the two women who 'frequent' the Grand, night after night, work here - I was so embarrassed, I pretended not to recognise them!

11th September - I have met Peter, the new comi waiter, who works in the restaurant at the 'Grand'. We walk down town together to our respective bus stops, when we are both on the late shift. He says he would like to take me out sometime and we arrange to go to the pictures when we are both on the early shift. We continue seeing each other when we can, but he then says he can't afford to take me out anymore! It is normal that the man pays for everything, it has always been this way, I have never heard of the saying 'going dutch', so paying for myself would seem a rather strange thing to do, after all, one has been invited out. But Peter points out that he only earns the same wage as I do, why should he have to spend all his money when we go out, whilst I save all mine? I can see his point, but this attitude is a little ahead of its time, and hard to accept!

15th September -Terry Dene is at the Empire, and Les Hobeaux are back again. I'm really looking forward to seeing the show. I love his record 'A White Sports Coat & A Pink Carnation'. The King Brothers have made a version of this too, and both are riding high in the 'Hit Parade'.

Went back stage to meet Terry Dene, there were lots of people waiting to get his autograph. I waited until everyone else had gone so that I could have a little chat with him. He was really nice to talk to, very ordinary. (What a pity then, that whilst in Sheffield, Terry had a nervous break down and suffered a great deal of adverse publicity).

Pat Boone in 'Bernadine' is on at the cinema - great film, went to see it twice! Maurice & Jan's wedding on Saturday, at St Mary's Church, Ecclesfield, and Thursday I go to the dentist to have two teeth out - what timing!

Skiffle is all the rage now. The Vipers are appearing at the Empire this week, great show.

September 28th 1957 - Had a great time at the wedding. That nice Richard Page, who has now left St Paul's church and is vicar at St Mary's, married Maurice and Jan. One day I will ask him to marry me! Uncle Ronnie, Mum's much younger half-brother came, he's such good fun, and very handsome!

Continued...

Copyright © Freda Brown.