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Dad was in the ARP, and at that time we lived in Reddish. He was a cotton spinner at the Broadstone Mill. I seem to have fient recollection of going there one day and seeing all those looms. He had an older brother uncle Stan. He, auntie Elsie with our cousins, Stan Maureen and Maurice live around the corner in Hardman Cresent. Then there was uncle Harry and his family who lived in Fovant Cresent, not far from St Elizabeth's Church. Their older sister, auntie Hilda and uncle John Astley lived in Ashton, or Aeston as some of the old folks used to say.

But my story is about a close shave that Dad told us two lads about, more than once I think. I tell you, its quite a while back now. I don't think that my sister Rhona was born yet, then Peter followed four years after her.

But Dad told us how he was out on patrol one night making sure there were no light showing from those terraced 'ouses that opened right ont'street tha'knows. Ee! A bit o' language cums back as I write, funny in'it? You see I have been in Australia for 53 years now.

Anyhow he and a couple of others ARP Wardens where doing there rounds, it might have been on 'athershal Road, can't quite remember now. But Dad said there were a blinding flash that stopped 'em in there tracks so speak. They jerked their heads around to see this brilliant flash followed by a mighty boom.

Just as well they did, said Dad, because, just as they stopped there was a wild whistling noise right past 'is ear that caused him to jerk back a bit. Whack! right there on't ground was a jagged piece of Shapnel, as they used to call it. Dad reckoned that it would have clean cut his head off, had he not paused to look at that bomb brilliant flash.

" I tell you", he said, "I think someone was looking out for me that night,or I might not have been here to tell it."

Then there was another day...

I'm not exactly sure which came first, but this one happened after my brother had his mate John Little from Ashton to stay over at our place. They were older than I was, and they were not real happy when Mam made Jack take me with 'em. I remember going with them down to Reddish Vale.

We had to cross the playing fields that bordered the new estate where we lived in Hardman Road. I'm trying to think of the name of the street that lead up to the playing fields. The part that came up from Gorton Road was Barlow Road. Maybe that part that lead to the playing fields was Barlowfold Road.

Anyway, we crossed the fields, went over the railway bridge, then down into the Vale. But I was not with them every day. However I did recall seeing them return with a trophy from one of their trips down to that favourite spot. It all came out when Mam was cleaning up the front room.

I was playing around the floor with my toys, and Mam had the Hoover cleaning around the lounge settee and pushing the hand extension around between it and the wall. The was a 'clunk' 'clunk' sound as metal hit, well almost hit metal. There was the flimsy back settee cover between the two metal objects.

Mam asked what I had been stuffing into the settee. I said, that it was Jack and John who had done it. She told me to get it out, and when she saw what it was, she nearly had kittens. I mean, I did not know these things. I was just following orders not to say nowt to Mam.

Well, now, the cat was out the bag so to speak. But it was the shape of the cat that made her nearly have kittens. I had heard of these things, but just really did not understand. Apparently brother Jack and friend John's education was a bit lacking too. The 'clunk' turned out to be a fully complete with tail unexploded incendiary bomb! Which really does lead onto another story. But maybe I should finish this one first.

My! Did Jack get a telling off when he came home. Of course he was all bewildered about all the fuss. But I think he saw things a little more clearly after Dad returned from work and told him how dangerous it was. He would not be any means be persuaded to allow Jack to keep his souvernier, and he had to take it to the police station and turn it in. Guess who put on show until Dad allowed him to go along with his brother? I mean, I really could not miss out on all the fun could I?

I remember Jack handing over the parcel that now contained the incendiary bomb. The Bobby behind the high counter unfolding it asked, "And what have we hear?" Jack was very inquisitive and wondered if the bobby could let him have a look inside the bomb.It would be the only opportunity he had. Wisely the Bobby pointed to the coloured discection drawing of an incendairy bomb on the wall. I can still it quite clearly in my mind till this day.

They was another dissappointment awaiting Jack. Alas! There was little chance of him taking home shell of the incendairy after it had been defussed. Oh!Well! Such is life!

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