by Andrew Wastling
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I remember well that gangs of
kids from Spotland and elsewhere used to regularly , and in those
seemingly endless summer holidays almost daily, play on much of the
land around the old Turner Brothers factory site. It was I must be
honest a brilliant space to 'doss around' on. We could refight world war
two in the old concrete bunkers near the old Ammunition factory further
along in Healy Dell, become a tribe of lost Apaches still evading
Custer, the Reservations & small pox blankets , or map out &
explore the woods & abandoned railway lines of the 'Dell' at our
leisure. All we needed was a couple of butties and a bottle of pop in a
cheap canvas army surplus shoulder bag. Some readers may remember the
amazing well constructed 'Tree House' and swing set back from the road?
Many local kids played there. This
was the days of three channels on TV and eking out a miserable existence
on the proceeds of an exploitative daily paper round from cheerful but
slightly tight fisted proprietor of the long gone Spotland Bridge paper
shop. Though I did try unsuccessfully to sign the other paper lads
& lasses up into the Labour Party Young Socialists & unionise
then for higher pay! We remained locked in perpetual industrial
conflict for much of 74-75 , like much of the rest of the country at the
time. The 'Bosses' sought to divide and rule with additional perks of
Curly Wurly's and Mars Bars to the most compliant so although I still
maintain we held the high moral ground we lacked the necessary resolve,
strike fund reserves & industrial militancy to decisively win that
particular battle in the class war.
Our second private enterprise
venture of recycling 'Ben Shaws' bottles collected from miles around
with home made go-carts at 'Alice's' on Willbutts Lane failed utterly to
raise us from our humble working class origins. Although Thatcher would
have been proud of our aspirational private business venture I'm sure ?
The 'Tree House' swing was the
best for miles around easily far superior to the lesser facility at Cop
trod. The 'Crag' near to Shaw field School too held its attractions -
especially when playing 'hooky'
from school - although the then stinking blue-grey river with its snake
like threads of grey fabric washing out of a locked concrete drain into
the stream & river direct from the Turners site was I have to admit
an acquired taste.
Away from the 'Tree House', along
a stretch of the same river besides the well stocked vegetable
allotments. We found leaping into the refreshing depths of the 'Spod'
from the concrete bridge crossing the river on the footpath leading
uphill to Rooley Moor Road was by far and away the best free
entertainment for council estate kids available for miles around in
summer - especially the glorious summer of '76 !
If my memory serves me correctly I
remember a slightly decrepit dumper truck regularly lumbering along
through the newly planted saplings to dump skip loads of rubble and
general junk into a pit that from time to time had soil bulldozed over
it by way of landscaping. Occasionally we'd spy men in white overalls
conducting weird & wonderful tasks beyond our understanding with
clipboards and with sticks and bits of white tape. We christened them '
Martians' at the time and thought no more of it. Although one of the
more excitable younger kids did think it was a prelude to an alien
invasion but he was a compulsive Doctor Who fan so nobody paid him any
mind.
Security was never a strong point
at Turners, even then . Though we did get an official letter from
Turners formally threatening our gang to keep off the river bank- my
first officially recorded brush with authority - where we'd catch the
odd small fish or newt, which perhaps with the benefit of hindsight
thankfully we let go rather than keep!
It would be interesting for some
research to be conducted with the participation those 70's street kids
to see if any of them have any long term health issues that could be
attributed to our toxic playground? I know at least three of our gang
have moved onto bigger and better things in Poland, Australia and the
USA, but others remain contactable. One of my close friends father worked
for many years at Turners and passed away of an asbestos related
disease. His blue overalls and flat cap as well as his incredibly wide
ranging intellect meant he was a fascinating and well known Rochdale
character who could talk knowledgeably for hours at a time on a huge
range of subjects from Edwin Waugh to John Pilger & Deeply Vale.
He's still much missed & unique
individual. A truly wonderful mentor & friend .He always treated me
and his son as adults and had more books lining the walls of their
terraced house on Rooley Moor road than you could find in the entirety
of Spotland Branch library. Their Manchester brick terraced house had
the added bonuses of having not only a brilliant & voluminous vinyl
collection but a well stocked fall-out shelter in the cellar , with
copies of both Protect & Survive but Protest & Survive along
with hand written signs saying: 'Zdravstvuyte tovarishch!' or 'Hello Comrade!' in Russian Cyrillic text. A wise
post apocalyptic survival tool we all agreed at the time given the
dire state of local civil defence contingency plans which had recently
been vilified in the Ob for having immovable metal filing
cabinets wedged in front of the door leading to Civil Defence Regional
HQ then located in the Town Hall cellar !
My mate's dad Norman, always resolutely
maintained that the 'truth would one day come out about what had gone on
at Turners over the years', but it wouldn't be 'for many years when
those responsible were long dead and buried'. Such was extent of the
cover up by local politicians & businessmen who had royally screwed
up with the site and feared that truth and the real extent of the
problem would finally out one day be dragged out into the cold light of
day.
Lets all hope Norman was right ?
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