Who Remembers.......
 

.......when Moscow Mill was a working cotton mill and St Mary's School was opposite - next to the T A barracks? When Stanhill Ring Spinning Mill and its chimney dominated the West End skyline? When steam trains pulled into Accrington station? When Thwaites Road was an isolated link between West End and Oswaldtwistle? When every stone-built building in Accrington was jet black from industrial pollution? When Boots and Woolworth's had counters with girls behind them taking the money? When nearly every street corner had a shop? When Accrington market was, mostly, in the open air and a pair of "nylons" cost 1/11d? When trams went from Blackburn to Church Commercial and the pantographs had to be changed over by the driver or conductor with a very long pole? When barges full of coal still worked the Leeds-Liverpool canal?

Well you must be bloody old then, like me. :D

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

I was surprised when I started looking into it that St Mary's had only just moved when I went there - I didn't realise how new it was when I was there.

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

Sorry, Westender. I don't remember any of that.

You've made me feel quite young now, thanks.:D

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theres only 1 thing on it i can't remember n thats cos i lived in accy when young.:D

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

I am....I remember all of that...mixed, mild and bitter cost 1/10p 1/11p and two bob a pint....that is 8p, 9p and 10p...in today's Micky mouse money....5 gallons of petrol for £1....The economy now is worse than I'ts ever been.....The pound is taking a severe bashing against the Euro...thanks to the rantings of Darling...which makes my pension 20% less than what it was............and we complain, but no-one takes a blind bit of notice. ;)

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

You made your sun lounger now you will have to lie in the sun on it :rolleyes::D

You could always move back to the UK and get a 20% increase in your pension.

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

Seem to remember Woolworths and Boots putting their best looking girls on the cosmetics counters , ;) ;)

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

ya just reminded me of one i used to go out with in blackburn woolies (cosmetics) mate so i dispute that.:D;)

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

Not on your nelly............If I moved back to the UK I would be subjected to all all sorts of hidden extras....like Council Tax,,,,TV Licence...Water Rates.....wanting to know what I was doing 24/7....My sun lounger has been in action today 30 degrees....that is bloody hot.
I can enjoy a smoke in the bars and dont have to pander to anyone.
I complain..as is my right..but I am happy with my lot...I have a flat overlooking the Med and wake up in the morning to constant sunshine.
What is your experience of waking up in Ossy?:p

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Ossy is fine mate and just about far enough from Darwen :D

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Errrrr NO.............sorry:)

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I remember when woollies used to be a L shape and have exits where farm foods is now :D

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lol, deja vu....

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

Went to St Mary's school when it was on Moscow Mill Street. I remember Mr Vandome a s the headmaster ( One of the best I ever had). Used to run to Accy station to try and see the "Namer " at about 5.30. Beer at at about 2/- a pint at the Tanpits Inn at Church. Many more memories. Happy days!!

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Re: Who Remembers.......
 

Main thing I remember about woollies as a kid is the "I Spy" books...used to get one every week with spending money.

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

Oh God, Fred Van Dome! I remember him as a very young teacher at St Mary's. He once caned me on the hand for forgetting to take a pencil to his Art class (I was 8 years old at the time) but we accepted that sort of discipline in those days. I actually liked the man.

I had been at Paddock House for over a year, about 1955, when St Mary's school had a trip to Europe, which was open to past pupils, and I went. Fred was in charge and supervised a group of about 20 of us all the way from Accrington to Belgium, Luxembourg, Holland and Germany - overland and by ferry across the Channel. He urged us to call him Fred but none of us could. It was my first trip abroad and I'll never forget it. I owe a lot to that man and his fellow-teachers.

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

Wasn't Woollies across from the Town Hall originally? I remember the Steam Engines on the railway, I used to sit on the wall up above the "Underground" and watch the trains pass with my older brother. I remember Thwaites Road has having houses on, probably before my time.

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

yep ya got woolies near as dammit joaner it was slightly off the town hall, facing the market hall.;):)

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

Woolworths was almost opposite theTown Hall when the steam trains were running.

Thwaites Rd had housing, mainly flats, after the middle 50s. Before that there were only fields, apart from Central Avenue, and it was a link between 2 very seperate communities.

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

Was it on the corner of Dutton Street?

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

Mr Vandome was headteacher when I arrived but I think I must have been in Infant 3 when he died and Mr Robinson took over. Totally different style - Mr Vandome was still in the 50's with his very strict regime, Mr Robinson was definitely a product of the late 60s.

Do you remember the really strange class system that still operates today i.e. four infant classes but you only actually go in three of the classes - they don't work on Year 1, 2, 3 etc - you're in a mixed year class with people of similar abilities. It's really hard to explain but it does work.

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

yep where macdonalds was bernie.;)

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Thought it was the old brain was questioning if I was right:)

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What's all that about?

I've never heard of that. :confused:

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Re: Who Remembers.......
 

Lost me too..............:rolleyes:

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

I'll try to explain it better.

Example - Junior Classes - there are 5 Junior Classes but children only do 4 Junior years. There are up to 40 children in any year group but a maximum of 30 in any class.

So when they move up from infants to juniors they could go into Junior1 or Junior 2. The 10 oldest or brightest go into Junior 2 leaving 30 in Junior 1. Each child will do four years in Juniors so for example Maddie, who's birthday is in October is one of the oldest, headed into Junior 2 so she'll do classes 2, 3, 4, and 5. She's now in 3.

Her friend is actually in the year group ahead of her but her birthday is in August so she's one of the youngest in her year group. She is now in the same class because she did Junior 1, 2 and is now in 3 with Maddie.

I probably still haven't explained it very well but what it means is that children are working with children of similar abilities. If you think about it, a year is a long time in the development of a child and someone born on September 1st can have a whole year of development ahead of someone born on the following August 31st. Because of the system at St Mary's the maximum age gap between the oldest and youngest in a class is around 8 months and not a full year and it can cross over a year group.

No, probably still haven't explained it well but it works, thinking back I remember it - just wondered if anyone else did as it is unusual.

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

They used to use this method at Peel Park don't know if they still do as I am talking years back when my kids were there. Agree it is a good system that gives a better chance to all the kids IMHO

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

Well can re-call the trains, woolies, stanhill mill (me mam sis and aunites worked there) also recall the dairy at west end and the milk floats rolling out. Also recall redmans shop (in another thread) mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm brain hurting now LOL will see what else I can recall :) :-) :p

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I see what you mean now. Thanks, Gayle. :)

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I remember the large railway marshalling yard and engine shed full of steam engines down Charter Street. I lived near the place and I spent many a happy hour sneaking round the sidings. I was probably lucky to escape a good ticking off from the cops or, even worse, being killed.

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

yep think there was hut type building belonging to "Lang Bridges" at the top end of the charter st wall we all used to run down.:D:confused:

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

I travelled on that Manchester line daily, from 1959 to 1963, as I worked in Bury.

I loved steam engines (still do) but perhaps it's "in the blood". My maternal grandfather was Station Master at Church and Oswaldtwistle from 1912 to 1928 (and before that, at Rochdale. My mum was born in the station house there in 1909) and, in his family, I had an uncle and a cousin who were railway engineers and another uncle who was a guard. :)

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

Yeah, I know the one you mean...think it was some sort of sports and social club. Seem to remember there was a billiards/snooker table in it.

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

i love em as well west ender, who besides cashy used to get a platform ticket at accy station n go to preston trainspotting, was great if ya never left preston station, did it dozens of times, a great day out fer a lad.:D

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

Yep, did the same myself. Only problem was sometimes you had to dodge the railway cops on the prowl at Preston station by nipping into the Gents!

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

ah never had much trouble wi them, musta been on the ball a couple of yrs later when your crew were at it.:D;)

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Think you may have met Ianto much earlier than you think.:) He lived just down the road from you;)

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

you can never be far enough from darwen ;)

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Doubt I met him. He was probably one of those older lads with ice blue drainpipe jeans, winklepickers and Elvis-type quiffs, who us kids were somewhat in awe of! ;)

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

Then of course Stanley were still playing at Peel Park in those days, remember working for the firm that actually dismantled the old wooden stand, what a sad time that was, watching Stanley's history go up in flames. In those days there was no Wollies on Broadway, just gadens and the Odean Cinema, remember going to my Aunts wedding reception which was held in the Odean complex. Remember Fred Vandom at St. Mary's and of course as MD of St Mary's Amateur Operatic Society, who's first production was HMS Pinafore in 1961, followed by the Gondolers then the Pirates of Penzanse.

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I remember when accy used to be a great place to shop :(
I miss the outdoor market, it was better than the one they have today!:rolleyes:

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Re: Who Remembers.......
 

No continuity before my grandfather, Willow. His father was a bank manager and his elder brother was a solicitor. When my "rebel" granddad joined the railway (as a booking clerk but he had to wear the LMS uniform) he was not allowed to use the front door when he came home from work but had to go round the back to the servants' entrance as they were ashamed of him. :rolleyes:

Incidentally the family lived, and my granddad was born in 1867, on King St. in Blackburn. Along with Montague St it was a very posh area then. :D

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

Puts hands up to Cashy......platform tickets were the greatest invention ever.....Preston was the fav.....but went to Crewe a few times spotting trains.....Bless me Father........for I have sinned........:)

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

i'm still sinning Tal.:D;)

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Yes remember all that, I went to St Mary's primary on Moscow Mill street, lived on James street at the time, opposite railway street, all gone now, a shame.

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

When were you at St Mary's cooinda, was there from 1951 to 1959 when I wnt to the Holy Family

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

Hi Jaysay,

I was at St Marys from 1947 to 1949, from there I went to Hyndburn Park, I know St Mary's was RC which I am but for some reason when we moved to Accrington, I was sent to Hyndburn Park I was there from being 11 and left at 15.

I remember a number of girls from St Mary's eventually went to Paddock Wood, I also remember a number of girl friends I had and would dearly know what happened to them, are you in Church/ossy/Accy

Do know Clive Birch who became a priest, and became Father Superior at Wallsingham the pilgrims church., he was/is my best friend.

Thanks for your contact

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

Westender,
I, too, remember - and I am.
davidf

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

the elderly chap, way back, used to walk round
accrington with a handkerchief up to his face
had no nose :(

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

Remember him Beechy,didn't he always wear a trilby too? Was very sad for him, always wondered what had happened.

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

I remember him well, and yes he always wore a trilby, I was told he had been badly disfigured in a fire, something to do with the war. I also heard a story that he had been in the RAF and was shot down and was burned when the plane crash landed.
He was very sad, but one person who knew him was a friend of my mother who at the time worked in Cavendish Woodhouse which was on Blackburn Road. She was told that he was very aware of his appearance, but he refused to talk about it.

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

in them days it was just "Cavendish" i think the Woodhouse was added later, used to go in wi me mam, she bought all her gear from there, must have met yer mam cooinda, yeh used to go upstairs to pay yer weekly.:D

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

Yes, I remember him, poor guy. My mum told me that he had been injured in an industrial accident at Bulloughs, but whether that was just hearsay or not, I don't know.

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

Hi Cashman.
Your right it was just Cavendish originally, when the Woodhouse was added thats when my mother left, she often worked upstairs, no doubt you will have met her, her name was Alice quite tall and a brunette.

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

I did it ... never got caught .... do remember seeing Mallard come through Accy, seeing an A3 "streak" was a rarity .... train spotting ended with the introduction of diesels ... no character, no class .... :( Anyhow, it was great fun; and with platform tickets at twopence, cheap too .... take along some spam sandwiches with lots of HP on them, and a thermos of coffee, laced with my grandad's scotch (he wasn't a big drinker, and it took him weeks to notice) .... it don't get no better:theband:

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

Looks like you were a proper little anorak, Eric:D I remember the Mallard coming through Accy too, In my younger days remember going train spotting down at the twenty steps, opposite Blythes, used to sit on the wall and watch the trains all day, lost interest when diesels came in.:(

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

Did you ever put coins on the line?
How big did they get after being run over by the Loco ,and burnt your fingers when you picked them up.
Is the row of houses still there[can,t remember the street name],we had to walk past to get to the 20 steps if you were walking down from Foxhill Bank

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

That chap, I used to see him up Enfield at the matches on Saturdays, my dad said it happened in the war, was in the air force.

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

Do you remember the chap who used to stand near there (Old Woolies) selling the Telegraph?...i think he used to wear a flat cap...was there for years!

Best Regards - Taggy

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

I recall this gentleman too, he used to live on Burnley Road, a few doors up from the Barbers, across from the Boars Head.


Best Regards - Taggy

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

Hi Taggy,

I remember an old man with no nose (poor man just used to have a big plaster over where his nose should have been) but I thought he lived down Clayton as I used to see him quite often on Whalley Road.

Another old man I used to see out n about a lot - was a blind man. He was short and used to come to our school to tune the pianos....remember him?

Ciao for now.....

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

WIMPY bars..:hothothot i used to travel around a lot and could always find
a wimpy bar for a burger,the one in Manchester as great.
do they still exist??

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

I used them a lot in the seventies beechy when I worked with Shopfitters, you could always get somat to eat at Wimpy, that was long before Big Mac and the like

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

I remember the piano tuner, white haired bloke, he used to get around too

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

That´s right - white hair and he always had a rain mac on and carried a little brown suitcase! Think he used to wear a trilby when it rained.....(which was quite often in Accy!!).

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

Used to love the Wimpy's. They still have a few but not as many, think Burger King took over many of their sites. Used to be a good one on Lord Street in Southport. I recall the one opening in Accy whilst i was at school, they had leaflets for a free burger when it opened, i collected a few from family and got one every day for a week on way home from School...they used to toast the Buns properly then too!

Best Regards - Taggy

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

Yea chap with the plaster on his nose, pretty sure he lived in Clayton, Dill Hall I think. The blind piano tuner lived on Brisbane St I think, the mack & the suit case, a lot of characters around in those days, anyone remember the chap in the Bowler hat he lived in Oswald St, I think he may have been a Booky, and Morice Hindle, he never worked a day in his life, but was very fit, always got around in a vest or T shirt & pumps , had bleach blond hair.

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

only guy I remember with a bowler hat was the milkman that worked for Jackson´s farm on Dill Hall Lane....he went around early every morning with the horse and cart - clip cloping along at crack of sparrows......

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

chap i remember with a bowler hat used to be the steward
of the Central Club in accrington used to knock around with a lady with
the dubios name of Titty Best

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

He wasn't call Armstrong was he beechy, also did the Canine too, can't remember his first name, but he died a few years ago, if its the same one. Ah just remembered he was called Tommy or just Tom, lived in Ossy near me and went in Ossy Con in the years before he died

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

cant say if its the same guy JavaScript,my guy was a good age back in the
early seventies.

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

Somebody brought up the subject of bus shelters on another thread, but do you remember the old concrete & asbestos half shelters of the 50s & 60s, they wer draughty old buggers, especialy the one outside the Load Of Mischief, waited for the the Blackburn bus more times than I can remember, but the one across from the Load on Whalley Rd, built into the Cambridge Press was great, especialy if you had a girl on your arm, or something. everybody caught buses in them days, not many cars parked outside houses then. Always jumped off the running board befor it stoped outside the CooP butchers. That was another good shelter in the CooP gents outfitters, while waiting for the 6am bus to Whalley, to ge to work at Brockhall for 7am. or I used to get a lift from a bloke who lived in Haslingden, Id wait in the enterance to the Star/Carlton, cinema/pictures.

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

Think one of the best bus shelters was the one at Church Commercial, opposite the Pub, was a wooden shelter set back and quite deep too, certainly kept the wind and rain out whilst you were waiting for the Blackburn bus

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

Right beechy, its just that I seem to remember Tommy wearing a Bowler hat. There was another old land lord who always whore a bowler, he was steward at Ossy Con in the sixties and later at the masonic lodge on Albert Street Ossy, he was called Fred Ingham, a real character. after he finish in the trade lived up New Lane in Ossy and drank in the White Bull

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

Buses were just more fun in those days. Jump on the platform as it was pulling out of Peel Street, run up the stairs, collapse and light up a fag, have an argument with the conductor ("if tha's owd enough to smoke, tha's owd enough to pay full fare...") etc etc. One of the best shelters was/is on Manchester Road, at the end of Newton Drive. It was made of solid stone, so it certainly kept the elements out!

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

had many a good time keeping warm in the one
at oakleigh top of ribblesdale,always made sure the girlfriend
caught her last bus home:dummy:
deep dark and secure was the one at the hospital
on whalley road:dflam:

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Re: Who Remembers.......
 

Another good thing about buses in the old days was the occasional attractive clippie you used to see. There was one flame-haired temptress who used to regularly work the Black Dog-Forts Arms run (route No. 1, as all owd Accringtonians will know). I used to gaze at her longingly as she sashayed up and down the aisle in her black ACT uniform with red trim, although the only conversation I ever managed was, "One to the hospital, please." ;)

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

i seem to remember a scandal on the buses ;)
reported non the less in the infamous broad sheet
of the day The News Of The World, the reporter
made his excuses and left..
:hehetable

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

i remember morice hindle as you say he was as fit as a butchers dog.he used to do a bit of scrap metal the spend what he got on strong ale, i think he was in lodgings at the top of park road accy for a while.

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

I waited in the shelter every afternoon when I was at school. It was quite cosy, on cold days, you went to the back and stood behind the adults who kept the wind off you. It even had the public lavatories next door - if needed. :D

My initials, alongside dozens of others, were scratched (with a pair of compasses) into the back wall of that shelter. :)

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

Going back to the man with no nose. I remember him walking on Lower Antley Street when I was a kid. He was often along there and my Nana told me not to look. Her explanation was that he stuck his nose into a flower and the pollen ate it away.

The things she told me and I still can't bring myself to cut my nails on Friday and Sunday!

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

The oldest person I remember wandering around Accy was a tramp called Tommy Ent? Another thing I remember as a kid was having to take every bodies unwanted/old pet to the gas chamber at the back of the cop shop on Manchester Rd. Not a nice job.

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

Yea I agree with the one at Oakleigh, another in Clayton was by the old Council yard on Whalley road ( is the yard still used ) and the other on Sparth road near the junction of Whalley Rd.

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Anybody remember Dick Gogh, used to go on Church Cricket Club every home match, he was the first bloke I ever heard heckling the players Umpire or anybody else who'd listen, he was a real character

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

Was he worst than Johnny Walker???...Mind you, Johnny used to do all his Whinging in the Bar!!!!;)


Best Regards - Taggy

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

Johnny was one on his own, used to travel round watching Lancashire as well as Church, his partner in crime was Chris Metcalf, both are sadly no longer with use. Chris was also a very good Umpire, officiated in the Ribbledale League for years after he stopped playing for Ossy Immanuel. Gogh was just a loud mouth, you knew when he had arrive in the Ground, screams of ged um hit echoed round the ground:D

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

Yep, i knew Johnny well. Once went on Hols to Mallorca with him....Beers at 9.30 am were a bit much for me though!! Lol!! Thing is with John, he used to go all over with the Cricket, as you say, but he never actually saw much...he was always in the bar!!...I once remember seeing him in Barnes St Chippy many years ago, he was getting his supper, and reading the Sports Pink....to check the scores of a match he had been too!!!! Ha Ha! Was Chris Metcalf related to Reg Metcalf?

Best Regards - Taggy

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

No don't think so Taggy, Chris was the elder brother of Steve and Gerrard who both played for Church and Immanuel, well Gerrard still does for that matter, was captain last year at Immanuel. Reg was related to Stuart Metcalf who used to play for the Rovers, can remember seeing bother Reg and Stuart at Tony Metcalfe funeral a few years ago, Tony was a mate of mine, I played pool with him in the 80s

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Yes and he always had shiny shoes Tommy Entwistle

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Yes and i could tell you all about that plus lots more.

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Yes beechy and i could tell you a lot about that when the canteen was over the top of Burtons .

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Small World Jaysay...i was at Tonys Funeral too! Knew him well, used to play Pool with him too! I know Caroline well (Tonys Partner at the time) Barrys ex-missus. I was actually the first person to Ring Reg after Tony had died. Saw Ted (Forget last name) one of Tony and Reg's mates in the Hare and Hounds about 6 months back, its still his local. I can recall shutting my eyes more than once, being driven back from a Pool Match by Tony...he was a nutter behind the wheel! Reg could Sup anyone under the table!

Best Regards - Taggy

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Tony was living in Burnley when he got together with Caroline he signed on to play for the Dragoon. Tony suffered with asthma like myself, and in those days if I was admitted to hospital I was always in Marsden hospital in Burnley, Tony and Caroline came to visit me on a few occasions. I think it was complications with Asthma drugs which killed him, was a tragedy he was an ace guy

Re: Who Remembers.......
 

So what was the scandal about,

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The market.....Attachment 13271, I think this one is better than the one we have now!, used to always get me toffees and fags from the kiosk:rolleyes:

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ooooooh cant put that on here dont fancy jail