geoff_walker

James Walker [ Geoff's father ]and his siblings were sadly orphaned which resulted in James just a baby at the time being raised by his oldest sister . This sister married John Henry Stubbings, and they were founders of the shop business at the top of Dalton Lane which for a lot of years later was run by their daughter Mable and her husband Jimmy Edwards, I believe the business has only recently closed.

James was to marry and moved into number 10 Cross St. Thrybergh where Geoff was born in 1936. Not being related to the other Walker families in the area Geoff's relatives were the Stubbings and Kelsall families. He attended Whinney Hill School which he left in 1951and started work at Silverwood as a Pan Turner, he remained at Silverwood until 1957.

"Having lost both my parents during my teens, I had to give up the house, being the youngest and the only one left at home in Cross St, I went to live with an Aunt (the one in the story below) Uncle opposite Fosters on Whinney Hill, lived with them up to getting married "

Like most lads in the area Geoff's interest were varied in the years 1953 to 1957 he was a member of the Thrybergh players a local Village theatre group, the photo left is from his time with the group.

Geoff relates this little gem about his youth
"John, here’s a story relating to the “Steeples” family and The Grapes in particular. Now up some wooden steps round the back of The Grapes you entered the Billiard Hall, and I along with a good few mates, Jack Pugh would probably be among them, honed our initial skills in there.
Well I remember the fellow who looked after the place, brushed and ironed The tables and took your money etc, he was called Albert Barker, a frail old thing he was. Anyway a few years on he passed away, I remember we went to the funeral and I think it was Albert Merrills, wrote this Epitaph,

Here lies the body of Albert Barker,
All his life a Billiard marker,
Gone for a long rest…..

Typical of young Merrills that one ‘egh…."

Geoff also played for the Thrybergh W M Club at snooker & billiards. His three team mates were Harold Beesley, Jacky Pugh & Derek White who were all well known in the area.
Geoff

at the age of 22 in 1957 left the area to live in Scarborough where he won the local Billiards Championship.

Geoff with the Thrybergh Players

You can discover some of the identities of the above on the Thrybergh Players page

Aunty Gerty
Here is a story involving a character who was an institution in Thrybergh during the 40s &50s, namely Dr, Sedgewick. An aunt of mine Gertie Newman was at the time suffering a bout of constipation, she had tried everything from Senna pods, Andrews Liver Salts, Carters liver pills, you name it, she’d tried everything but “dynamite”, so in despair she went with this “sensitive” tale to the doctors. After some studied consideration he said “you had better try this” producing a Suppository . “Try that” She exclaimed, “I have enough trouble getting Asprins down” she said. ”Oh no” said he and delicately explained that it went in the back passage. All the way home she was muttering, back passage we don’t have a back passage. Anyway when she got home, having no back passage she put it in the front porch between two plant pots. After suffering for a couple more days, she went back to see the doctor. “That thing you gave, for all the good its done I might just as well have shoved it up my backside” she said, and walked out…

© Geoff Walker 2007

Many thanks to Geoff for sharing his memories here.

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