'With spring well on the way and the Easter holidays around the corner, I am reminded of some Easter holidays of the mid 1920s.

In those days you could see a vast yellow carpet of primroses in the woods near Denton, some six miles from Northampton. They proved such an attraction people went on there in droves to see and pick them.

Many went from Northampton by bus. Knights of Denton and Minneys of Yardley Hastings provided services. However many were from poor families and had to walk. Having reached their destination they would spread out over the woodland to discover the countryside.

For most this was an adventure the very young had not seen the like of before. They were like birds let out of a cage.

As late afternoon approached they would be seen wending their way happily home through the village of Denton. Many had a newly cut and decorated nut stick with bunches of primroses tied to it and hanging from their shoulders. Prizes to take home to mother.

For the younger however it often proved too much as they had walked many miles – some were little more than eight years old. As they approached Brafield they lagged behind while their elder brothers who led the way urged them on, for nightfall was approaching and there were still four and a half miles to go.

However, on more than one occasion they were rescued by working men who, while waiting outside Brafield Working Men’s Club for it to open, stopped a bus, put the children on it and paid their fare to Northampton. This left little in the men’s pockets for a drink but such were the selfless actions of poor people in times of hardship.'