During the late twenties, the Hollins at Crooke Hall, where dad was employed, began to talk of leaving. Mrs Hollins sent word that there was a large collection of boys books which had belonged to Mr Hollins’ father. I could take whatever I wanted and the rest to go, if required, to the scout troop. I obtained quite a lot of these books, many of them being well-known boys authors and they were also in many cases first editions going back to the late 1800s. I later gave many of these books to a sale held by Chorley Grammar School to raise funds for a new pavilion. As 1930 approached Hollins sold up at Crooke Hall and moved to Gelston in Dawson Lane. Just prior to the move by some months Dad was informed that they could no longer afford to pay him, so he was out of work. But, as fate stepped in, or whatever, the young man who had taken dad’s place on a lad’s wages had a severe accident on his bicycle coming from Coppull where he lived. He crashed by Astley Park entrance and was taken to Chorley hospital, which was then in Gillibrand Street, Chorley, now part of the Chorley Borough Council offices. He never went back to Crooke Hall and later died, presumably through the head injury he had received. Mrs Hollins came rushing down to our house and informed dad he could come back to work for them on her terms or we would have to leave the house. Such was the threat by the so-called gentry. Dad went back until 1930 when Hollins had a huge sale and moved to Gelston. Mr. Hollins was an alcoholic by that time and spending what money they had on drink. He finally died with the D.T.s. Dad was by this time again out of work and as he had never paid to unemployment insurance he had no income. I had left school by then and the only income to the house was my sister’s wage from Kem Mill which was very meagre as the cotton industry was beginning to decline.
In 1931 the Brothers of Charity purchased Crooke Hall and changed its name to Lisieux Hall. The hall was staffed by a superior and six brothers. The superior pleaded poverty and anyhow took dad on for the rent of the house, eventually giving him ten shillings for a week. They later had a new superior who gave Dad more and when he retired he was given a little pension in appreciation for all that he had done for them. Dad’s work with the Brothers of Charity consisted of having the breakfast ready for them when they came back from mass at Clayton Green Catholic Church. He was also instrumental in teaching the boys how to do gardening. Sometime, he was in a precarious position as the boys (lads) were unpredictable, so he had to watch his back but nevertheless Mr Tustin’s name became an institution at the hall and was well respected; on his retirement the superior told him he could live in his house as long as he needed to. Mother occasionally went to the Gelston to help with the cleaning. She walked across the fields to the house.
Continue to 19. Working in Glasgow