Rhyme 21

~ The Knocker-Up ~

Amy Tinsley was a good old soul appearing every morning with her long white pole. Beating a loud tattoo on bedroom windows when folk were sleeping still, she aroused the occupants for work in the mill. Starting furthest from the mill she worked her way down a familiar figure in a Lancashire town. She received tuppence a week from each household until alarm clocks caused a stir and no one ever discovered who aroused her!.

Other Rochdale 'Knocker-up's'
~~
Rochdale knocker-up's Bobby Gunn on Spring Street in 1916
and Sarah Howarth on Franchise Street in 1934.
Each morning at about 4 o'clock, the knockers-up began their rounds.
Anyone who had paid for the service was roused at the prescribed
hour by an unearthly tattoo which often put paid to the slumbers of
half the street. The cacophony was created by a bunch of umbrella
wires, strapped to the end of the knocker-up's pole and energetically
rattled on the bedroom window-pane until the knocker-up received
some indication that the inhabitants had indeed been awakened.
At that point the sleep-fuddled customers were usually given a
potted summary of the weather - 'foggy/freezing/sunny' -
before the knocker-up proceeded on their way.

Must not forget Rochdale's one armed Lamplighter,
This photograph was taken in 1910.
'Oily Jack' was the knick-name of the first lamplighter of Rochdale .

~ The Skies Will All Turn Blue ~

My songs are chosen especially for you, mixing sentiment and humour that's the thing to do. I laugh with my audience and when they weep I cry too, not for long with another song the tears become so few. Don't worry about tomorrow think only of today, count your blessings one by one and luck will come your way. What's the good of moaning it won't get you anywhere, swing your way to happiness dispense with dull care. This is my remedy tried and true, it will surely work for you. When things go wrong just sing a song and the skies will all turn blue.

~ Tried and True ~

What have I got in my basket? Wouldn't you like to know, all will be revealed when you see the show. What have I got in my basket? A medley of song, in selecting old favourites I never go wrong. Modern songs are acceptable I quite agree, but Sally means much more to me. Association attachment call it what you will, in another twenty years I'll be singing it still. I acquaint myself with the latest songs and proudly cling to the old, new songs are silver old songs are gold.

Gracie with Ian Hunter in her first and most famous film
Sally in Our Alley, 1931.

~ Oh, What a Surprise ~

Gracie decided to buy a leather jacket so into a shop she went, to take her measurements a young assistant was sent. His eyes nearly popped out of his head, Has anyone ever told you how like Gracie Fields you are he said. I am Gracie Fields she laughingly replied you know nowt about owt, Go on you're not but you do look like her, when she burst into Sally he had no doubt. Oh, my goodness he gasped you are you really are the world famous mega-star. He was very embarrassed at the time maybe, but it left him with a treasured memory.

~ The Carrot Trail ~

Gracie's friend Mary Whipp sent her a packet of carrot seed which the postal service delivered with speed. By the time the package reached its destination Gracie had already left so it was forwarded to her next port of call but missed her again and the third attempt was also in vain. When eventually it caught up with her she penned a letter to say - It's a wonder the seed didn't arrive as 'cooked carrots' after such a long delay.

~ I Belong To Rochdale ~

Each time I leave the Isle of Capri Rochdale is where I love to be. Greeted with a smile and a cheer by all the folk I hold most dear. I walk down the cobbled streets shaking every hand if I shed a tear or two they will understand. Wherever I travel in this big world however far I roam there is nothing more wonderful than returning home. Scenes from a happy childhood how could I forget when sweet memories are so firmly set. The Freedom of my hometown I honour constantly 'cos I belong to Rochdale and Rochdale belongs to me.

~ A Precious Souvenir ~

Gracie received a souvenir which filled her heart with joy, she felt like a child with a brand new toy. It was a latch from the house where she was born and when builders pulled it down it left nostalgic memories for this Lancashire town. A Yorkshireman sculptured twin cupids to stand on her terrace in Capri, and an Italian artist painted a tiled table top beneath a shady tree. Throughout her career she received gifts by the score, but nothing moved Gracie half as much as the latch from her old front door