Childhood memories

Childhood Memories.
Childhood memories

The 'flowerpot men', 'weed', Amos and Andy,
Big Ted, little Ted, Loopy Lou, Andy Pandy,
Woodentops, spotty dog, gently 'supervised' by 'ma and pa',
Jack and Jill, Miss Moffet, 'twinkle,twinkle little star',
'Listen with mother' - "Are you comfortably sat?"
Rag, Tag and Bobtail, Rupert and Felix the cat,
Toytown, Sooty and Sweep, Muffin the mule,
George Formby films where he played the fool,
Sunday lunchtime 'wireless requests' - for BFPO 40.
'Metcalfe and Michelmore' - 'The Saint', being naughty.
Dr Quatermass and his extremely spooky pit,
Cauliflowers or pens - Crackerjack, a long running hit,
Ovaltine, morning coffee (biscuits) Pixie, Dixie and Jinks,
Ludo, skittles, snakes and ladders, drafts, tiddlywinks.
'Animal magic' - Johnny Morris, the 'hot chestnut man',
The Bash Street Gang, Charlie Peace, Desperate Dan,
Dinky cars, Hornby and Triang trains, Meccano sets,
The Beano, the Dandy, childish 'dares', silly 'bets',
'Roy of the Rovers', ginger wine, coal tar soap,
swings hitched on trees with lengths of old rope,
'Dennis the menace','Lord Snooty and pals',
American 'Westerns', Superman,'guys and gals',
'Robby robot', the Red Planet, early 'fantasy' space trips,
Electronic sounds,'invisible' footprints, laser guns, rocket ships,
Tonto, the Lone Ranger and Silver, his faithful horse,
The Cisco Kid, Roy Rogers, Dale and Trigger - of course!
Flicka and Champion, 'Mr Ed', Rawhide, Wagon Train,
South Pacific, Oklahoma, Carousel, Singin' in the rain,
Donald Duck, Mickey and Minnie mouse,'Pluto and co',
The Addams family, Skippy, the 'wacky' Bilko show,
Seaquest, Highway Patrol, Cannonball and Dragnet,
(All with musical themes which I'll never forget),
Lucille Ball, chaos in 'I love Lucy', with Desi Arnez,
Tommy Cooper,'just like that', with his famous fez,
Tony Hancock and Sid James, the Buccaneers, Ivanhoe,
Carol Levis's pioneering television, talent show,
Hughie Green, Michael Miles with 'Take your Pick',
'Beastly' - Bunter, Greyfriars, Montmerency and Mick,
Jewel and Warris,'wee' Arthur Askey, the Goons,
Cardew the Cad (remember Russ Conway's catchy tunes?),
Hilda Baker, Reg Varney, David Nixon and Benny Hill,
Sunday Nights at the Palladium, where they 'topped the bill',
Hosted by Norman Vaughn, and 'Brucie' with silly, innocent,'fillers',
'Beat the Clock' and immaculate dance routines from the 'Tillers',
'Coronation Street', from the first episode, we saw 'Northern life',
Dark sets,'live' scenes, evocative theme tune, trouble and strife,
Albert Tatlock, 'young' Ken Barlow, Elsie Tanner, Ena Sharples,
Enid Blyton`s 'Famous Five', Agatha Christie's 'Miss Marple',
Archie Andrews, with Peter Brough, 'little' Jimmie Clitheroe,
And Old Mother Riley, with 'daughter' Kitty,always in tow,
The 'Four Just Men', Raymond Francis's 'No Hiding Place',
'The Scarf', a six part thriller, plus 'The Man with No Face',
Eric Sykes, Hattie Jacques, Derek Guyler, Michael Bentine,
with 'bumblies', Peter Sellers, 'Spike' Milligan, Billy Bean,
Sparky's magic piano, 'Uncle Mac', 'Jungle Jim',
Pepsodent, Palmolive, Daz, Persil powder and Vim,
The 'Army Game' and later, 'excused Bootsie and Snudge',
'Crunchy', strong pickled onions, special home made fudge,
Tubby the tuba, the owl and the pussycat - 'pea green boat',
'Nellie the elephant','Trolls', Brough the ferocious billy goat,
Cornflakes, Bovril, lemon curd, newly created 'fish fingers',
Crystal sets, valves, Airfix Kits, models planes, King's singers,
Popeye, Olive Oil and Bluto (up to his usual tricks!),
Spinach,'instant strength', Saturday morning 'flicks' -
'Journeys on silver screen', weekly, from 'Heaven to Hell',
'Swiss Family Robinson', Disney with it's early 'magic spell',
'Movietone News', regular bulletins from around the world,
Famous events, uprisings/overthrowings, just as they unfurled,
Interrupting Saturday morning's cinema of 'terror and jest',
Comic book heroes and villains, routinely 'put to the test',
Acid drops, bicycle 'proficiency test', tasty bubble gum,
'Minor' disagreements with Mum and Dad - (sore bum!?),
The annual seaside holiday ('twas usually to Rhyl),
Knitted 'cossie', candy floss, travel sickness pill,
Buckets and spades, kites, beach sandcastles with moats,
Crabs in still pools, seaweed smells and model boats,
Sand dunes, cold seawater, gaudy amusement arcades,
'Helter skelters', 'big dipper' and long marine parades,
Traditional breakfasts, 'Scots' porridge oats and toast,
Weekday hot evening meals and on Sunday, a 'roast',
'Fried' corn beef and chip 'butties' with sauce/marmalade,
Semolina, 'mushy' peas, mum's 'fudge', bread (home made),
Tarzan, Cheeta and their 'playmate' - Jane,
Hula hoops, catapaults, hailstones and rain,
Plaited hair, lollypops, clips, combs and curls,
Flared party dresses for cute little girls,
Linoleum, coal fires, 'jumping' beans, clockwork toys,
Space/Tommy guns with sparks and friction noise,
The Crazy Gang, Norman Wisdom, 'Chesney and Bud',
Davey Crockett, Friar Tuck, Little John, Robin Hood,
'Dan Dare - pilot of the future', the 'green men' from Mars,
The Mekons (my weekly 'excursion' to the stars!),
Laurel and Hardy, Tommy Trinder, and the Keystone Cops,
Buster Crabbe (Lassie and Rin Tin Tin were 'doggie' tops!),
Crimes solved by the indefatigable 'Charlie Chan',
Weekly 'disappearances' by the invisible man!
Max Bygraves and his bathroom 'ditty', the toothbrush, pink,
Wagon Wheels, marshmallows,'dandelion and burdock drink',
'Conkers', on strings (pre soaked in vinegar always proved best
Overnight, to toughen them up for the next playground contest),
Sticklebacks, tiddlers; all manner of dogs and rabbits for pets,
Sunny days, 'cabbage white' butterflies, captured in nets,
Marbles with their bright coloured, curly designs,
'Tag', 'hopscotch', invisible ink - secret signs,
Black jacks, fruit salad, Spangles, Winter 'mix',
'Gob stoppers', aniseed twist, root liquorice sticks.
The infants' school, daydreams, childhood games.
Early 'love letters', with long forgotten names,
'Cod liver oil' - "Now eat up your `greens" - YUK,
Bean bags, crayons, papier mache, spelling book,
Parties, 'Brylcreamed' hair, 'short back and sides',
'Postman's Knock', 'musical chairs', Cubs and Girl Guides.
Monday morning wash days - seemingly endless skies of blue,
With billowing winds, clouds, gentle breezes, soft morning dew.
The old wooden mangle, gas boiler, 'dolly' and tub,
The wash board, 'elbow grease' and 'rub a dub,dub'.
.........................................................
Christmas carol singing, in the crisp virgin snow,
Presents, magically appearing, Santa's "ho-ho",
Many, many more and perhaps too numerous to list,
(My apologies to you, for yours that I've missed!).

Jennifer Kersey.