March meeting 2006


Mr AlanHemsworth spoke to the Society at their March meeting about
his memories of his grandmother during his boyhood at Pudsey, near
Leeds. "Fish oils", coal "oils" and "balks" (cellars) were often mentioned
in a world of fireside ranges, outside toilets and "middins" or outhouses,
and free of television and computers. At a time of much discussion
about immigration, Mr Hemsworth showed how many dialect words used
by his ancestors had been brought in by earlier waves of immigrants
from Denmark and Germany. His grandmothers most telling comment,
however, was when he behaved badly, "Nay lad" was enough to make
him feel ashamed.

The final lecture in the present series will be at Barnoldswick Library at
7-30pm on Thursday 27th April, when Mrs Bernadette Atkinson of
Gargrave will gives a talk on "Edwardian elegance", helped by period
clothes from her large collection.