[Barrie Yates]

Even though I left Accrington(latterly Church) in 1961, I still have so many memories. The Coppice, Red Shale, Hambleton, Little Blackpool - fantastic places for youngsters to run around and enjoy freedom. Trickets ice cream in the Market Hall, the baths - and the chippy opposite - 3 pennorth of chips and some bits. The chippy on Church St, the Melbo Coffe Bar, Joe Mort's - jiving to Night Train and the like, and a punch up every Saturday night when gangs would come from all over just to have a go at the Accrington lads (no weapons though). The Cattlemarket and australian pubs where they didn't care about your age as long as you could get over the back wall when the Police Visited. The snooker hall under the King's Cinema and D.S. Sargeson standing on top of the steps and picking out the ones he thought were under age - and clipping your ear as you left past him. The Con club on a Saturday night - Eddie McGarry I think and there was a lad from AGS played in the band - Whatmough I think. I used to go and have a game of snooker with my uncle during the interval. Met my wife there - over 50 years ago now,so that has a special place in my memories.
I suppose you can take the lad away from Accrington, but you cannot take Accrington away from the lad - or lass