Christ Church Ashton Magazine

It was the time when we were collecting wood for our annual bonfire and l remember being a little peeved because l thought he had done it to avoid the heavy work cutting down trees! l would stay at his house and listen to the radio with his mum, Emily. She would put us both in a tin bath in front of the fire whilst she scrubbed both of us together clean for another week. We had many a quarrel and l remember a tiff that lasted some time but we quickly got back together when we found ourselves having the same piano teacher, Mr Etchells with lessons in the front room of our house in Victoria Street.

When we both left school l joined the Post Office in Hyde as a Junior Postman, and Brian, after a couple of jobs joined Sharp’s Toffee Works on Shepley Road Audenshaw in the sales office. Our work forced us to do things separately for a few years, at l8, l was called up to the Royal Engineers, and 8 months later was working in Rheindahlen in Germany. Out of the blue l received a letter from Brian. He wrote that he was coming to Germany on holiday, visiting Remagen, and would l come out and spend the day with him. l replied that l would if l could and from then on he started communicating with me on a regular basis, with parcels of delicious Sharp’s Toffee. It was a pity l wasn’t able to get away to visit him but we remained in regular contact until l finished my two years. We remained mates throughout the years since l958. When we both got married we were best man at each others weddings and we are both godparents to our children. Regrettably, my wife and I divorced some time ago. Although l am only 5ft 5ins and Brian is 6ft 7ins, we have so much in common, and l know that every bone and sinew in his body is made from his kindness, generosity 17 for me and l thank God and his helpfulness, such a blessing l have such a great friend. Michael Clarke Church Choir