~ Spread A Little Happiness ~

My mother said you can't be happy yourself unless you make others happy. At school my teacher penned a few lines in my autograph book... A merry laugh is a blessing kind, A contented heart a purse well lined. I remember a quotation by that brilliant writer the late Naomi Jacob. Life is a bank if you put something in you can take something out with a little interest in addition. If you put nothing in you can't to take anything out. Gracie put kindness, generosity and compassion in her bank of life. The interest a wealth of affection for the happiness she spread to millions all over the world.

~ Home Sweet Home ~

Gracie said, palaces and splendour dazzle in vain, it's good to be back in Rochdale again. I received a rapturous welcome the last time I came, the dear folk I love are always the same. Many wonders I have seen as around the world I roam, be it ever so humble there's no place like home.

~ Jenny Bamford ~

Jenny was born in 1879 and baptised Sarah Jane the orphan of flighty parents and brought up by a strict Aunt in Rochdale, frivolous pleasures she tried to curtail. She practically lived in a church Jenny had to attend twice every Sunday and the Band of Hope three evenings a week on deep religion she was fed, often she played truant and went to the music hall instead. Sneaking in one of the two free seats provided called "Poets Corner" origin unknown, to Jenny it was a corner of heaven a world of her own. She worked from dawn to dusk in the cotton mill at ten years of age, weaving her web of dreams that one day she would be an actress on the stage.

~ The Free life ~

At fourteen Jenny left her Aunt to set up home with two girls from the mill, free to sing and dance as often as she wished and go to the music hall still. Plans for the future was the main factor, she had quite decided when she married it would be to an actor.

~ Fred Stansfield ~

Jenny met Fred in Drake Street Rochdale he was wearing a huge American Stetson hat and long pointed shoes, she thought he was an actor and quickly followed him there was not a moment to lose. Each time Fred stopped to admire himself in a shop window Jenny stopped also to fix her clog this went on several times, "Tha' seems to be 'avin' a lot o' bother with yon clog lass" he said., Jenny looked up her face was red. "Why, you talk like a Rochdale lad! you're nothing but an ordinary fellow." She could not rattle Fred "How can I be an ordinary fellow wearing this big brown hat," Jenny must have seen the logic in that. He was not an actor but he was smart much better than nowt so she raised no objection when Fred offered to take her out.

~ Tying The Knot ~

Jenny married Fred when she was eighteen he arrived at the church with a large cigar to match his hat, the verger took it off him he was not too pleased about that. "Ah want it back when ah'm done in here," but his words fell on a deaf ear. Fred got himself a job at Robinsons' engineering works and he had his pretty Jenny. When children came along his life would be complete he did not wish for anything more, he had no idea what the future held in store.