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John Parker


John Neville Parker was born in Long Preston in 1939. He has always lived in the village and worked on local farms and for the neighbouring quarries.


Part A:  Memories of childhood and schooldays, games that were played and swimming and fishing in the Beck. Using the bus and train for trips and Sunday School.


Part B:  About the concrete, the cattle mart and sheep. John left school to work at a farm in village, then worked for the Quarries. Memories of going to the cinema & dances at Skipton & Settle. Telling about the tradition of tying the church gates at weddings. The village had the resident Doctor Clegg, and a mobile dentist came to the school.

Part C:  Wearing of clogs, which were made in Long Preston. The village had several blacksmiths and many families had allotments and kept pigs. Tales of the snow every winter and sledging at night, and how the Mechanics Institute had lots of activities - snooker, table tennis and a library.


Part D:  Recollection of Travellers selling pegs etc, also knife grinders and quite a few tramps, who knew who to go to for a cuppa. The hiring of Irishmen to help with the harvest.


Recorded:  July 2008