RIPPONDEN

is on Friday, February 14 and the speaker is Rob Hamilton who will talk on the amazing Mrs Humphies who was an early 20th century local lone globetrotter. Members and non-members (£3) are invited who it is hoped for a nominal sum become members. January was the month for renewing membership but membership of course, can still be renewed and it is in fact better value for non-members to join as it is cheaper over the year. The annual day excursion is planned for the second Saturday in August as usual which this year is the 8th of the month. The excursion is to the Macclesfield Silk Museum which also includes a guided tour of Paradise Mill adjacent which is an old Silk Mill but with working machinery followed by an afternoon visit to Buxton. A non-returnable deposit of £10 to the treasury, Robert Davies is required, the outstanding balance to be paid to the treasurer by the April meeting.

Grace Roberts

Ryburn Valley History Society

At the January meeting Granville Dobson gave a talk about his life with steam trains; the best job in the world. In 1947, at the age of nine, his parents took him to London and they visited Euston station where he saw a beautiful steam train. The driver invited him onto the footplate, and young Granville’s life was set.

After grammar school, and to the despair of his parents, he started work in 1952 as an engine cleaner at 57 shillings for a 48 hour week. His progress was rapid, and he worked as a fireman on the Pennine routes until steam was replaced by Diesel, when he went into management.

Mr Dobson described vividly his many memories; the bitterness of the 1955 rail strike, when the two rail unions disagreed, and some men never spoke to one another again, the closeness and loyalty of colleagues, the lack of training, the absence of health and safety, but overall of a life of contentment with himself. The next meeting is on Tuesday, February 11 at 7.30pm at the Conservative club. ‘Our Leader, Sue Ryder’ will be the subject of a talk by Gamma Bingham. Visitors are welcome, there is a charge of £3.