Sarsaparilla Memories - Long!!
When we were kids, my school friends Martin Oakley and Alec Jackson and I used to walk home from school. It wasn't far but as 9 year olds we were supposed to get the bus. Some days we'd meander home via the River Erk and mess about along the water's edge or climb the sandy "cliff" above the flowing water. It was always a laugh if someone got a "booty". To us that was getting a wet foot. We didn't wear boots, but you get the idea. This was Chadderton in Lancashire. It was 1964. Other days Alec and I would walk home. Martin lived in the opposite direction from school. Firstly, we went to St Matthew's Infant School, and across the road, Chadderton Hall Junior School. By 1964 we were at the junior school. On some of the days we walked home, we'd spend our bus fare, sixpence. Before decimalisation pence! That's 2½p in the decimal money we use today. We'd either buy sweets in the parade of shops not far from Alec's house. Or we would...
