Readers' letters - July 19

With respect to the article in the Lancashire Post about Fleetwood, I would like to add some of my own memories as I felt Angela Norris omitted to mention some of the things I remember from my childhood in the early 1940s (LP Retro, July 11).

We, as a family, caught the bus to Knott End to catch the ferry over to Fleetwood.

The walkway went right down to the ferry and, in those days, there was a beautiful sandy beach on the Knott End side when the tide went out, not like the mess it is today.

As we looked over to our left, we saw men making sand pictures.

The men were called sand artists.

The beach was divided into areas at least 6ft square and each man had a square.

These pictures were not built up like a castle, but were fairly flat on flattened sand and were a great attraction.

People used to throw coins onto the pictures for the artists.

It was a great treat when my mother gave me a penny to throw onto a picture I liked.

They were really gorgeous detailed pictures.

After watching the men working, we caught the ferry across to Fleetwood.

I remember the two decks on the boats, a lower one and a higher one, and as one boat left Knott End, another left Fleetwood and they passed each other in the middle.

Everyone waved excitedly to people on the other boat.

Later, when we crossed back to Knott End, if the tide was out and the water was low, we used to look under the rocks and pick periwinkles off them.

We then went round to my grandma’s and she would put them in a pan of boiling water.

After a few minutes, she would drain them and we ate them by picking them out of their shells with a pin or needle.

They were happy days and, in my mind’s eye, it only seems like yesterday as my memories are so vivid.

Bob Winders

Garstang

HEALTH

I’m here thanks to the NHS

I’m here at 80 years old, thanks undeniably due to NHS care.

1. I was born in 1938.

2. Tonsils were removed (brutally removed in those days! Although I had free ice cream).

3. Hammer toes needed to be smashed and reset.

4. Appendices burst. Ouch!

5. Clear run for several years until I had my face stitched at Birmingham Accident Hospital.

6. Body temperature dramatically out of control, so I spent two days in hospital.

7. Wow! Viral meningitis (at 27 years old). It was so serious, I spent 10 days in hospital and it took months to recover.

8. Vertigo (999 call operator remaining with me until paramedics arrived). I spent three days in hospital.

9. Hemorrhoids (big time). I spent three days in Weston-super-Mare hospital.

10. Major spinal surgery! Brilliant surgeon at Weston-super-Mare.

11. Operation for replacement left knee at Chorley Hospital. (Thanks Jenny).

12. Operation for replacement right shoulder (thanks Jenny).

13. Operation to replace above replacement shoulder, skilfully carried out at April 17, 2018, at Chorley Hospital. What more can one say?

One major complaint is nursing staff working shifts should not have to pay parking fees. This is insulting and is a national disgrace!

It is embarrassing.

William T Gilson

Leyland

events

Showcasing best of town

What a wonderful start to the year, with three brilliant events – starting with Longridge Field Day, then there was Goosnargh and Longridge Show and Create Longridge on Saturday.

The weather for all three events was brilliant and showcased the best of Longridge.

The community was out in force for all three events, showing their support.

Our thanks go to all the volunteers and organisers who give up their time to make these things happen.

Local businesses also show their support by giving prizes for raffles etc and the use of their premises on Saturday, with artists working from many of these.

A lot of these voluntary organisations are always looking for extra help so, if anyone has any spare time, I am sure your help would be appreciated.

We have had a brilliant time at all three events and Saturday was brilliant.

I am proud to serve as Mayor of Longridge and to be invited to all these shows is an honour.

I’m very honoured to have my portrait painted at Longridge Gallery.

Paul and Ann Byrne

Longridge Town Mayor and Mayoress

environment

Saving water, plants and bees

Here’s a suggestion to save water, plants and bees (which need the flowers watering to provide nectar. No water in the ground means no nectar for bees).

There are many householders who have decided not to pay for their brown bin to be emptied.

These brown bins could be wheeled to a convenient spot in the garden and filled with dishwater over the next few weeks to be used for watering gardens whilst the hosepipe ban is in force.

Steve Ganner

via email