Childhood Memories
by Jonathan Fligg
The other day I had cause to think back over my childhood, and it suddenly dawned on me that a certain period of my childhood sticks out more than any other. Although I was very young at the time, probably about six or seven, certain impressions were made on my mind and have stuck there ever more.
My grandfather lived in Hull at that time, and my parents frequently went down there to stay with him and visit cousins nearby. We didn't have a car then, so the journey from Leeds where we lived, to Hull, was either by train or bus, but whichever was the case the journey itself was an adventure for me at that early age. My father I am sure will remember that song I made up along the way once - "Willoughby Square" I think it was! But back to the point. Who was my grandfather? Well I am sure that there are many who remember Moishe Davidson, and those who didn't know him have undoubtedly heard of him.
Moishe was a watchmaker and a truly remarkable character. From what I learned of him later in life, he was probably one of the most well-known characters in Hull at that time, and those who knew him will know why that was. He seemed to derive the greatest pleasure from simply talking to people and passing the time of day with them, whether it be at home at 4 Melrose Street, or at his shop beside the market and close to the Pier in the city.
For some reason, which I have never really gone into, I seemed to spend a lot of time in that shop, and it was this that left such an impression on my mind. The shop itself was nothing out of the ordinary from the outside. Opposite the shop was the market, with all the various stalls and characters associated with a market. There was a church on one side of the market square, and just down the road was the River Humber and the ferry that crossed the Humber to New Holland. But back to the shop. As I said, it was nothing out of the ordinary really. Entering the shop, you were faced with a counter, selling all sorts of goods, from cigarettes to shoelaces. I think would probably call it a general store. Turning to the left there was a narrow passageway lined with shelves, and at the end, a step and a curtain. Opening the curtain and entering the room beyond, you immediately entered another world. Moishe, being a watchmaker, spent his days in this tiny room, working under the heat of a table light, eye-glass in his eye on the common peering over the innards of a watch or clock. Everywhere you looked there were watches. Clocks lined the shelves around the room. Grandfather clock's stood to attention against the walls. Not that you needed to be able to see, for it seemed that for every minute that passed, a chime would ring out, from the straight chiming of a grandfather clock, to the musical chimes of some ornate clock. Then there was the ticking of watches, constantly filling the room. The table Moishe worked on, was filled with watches, clocks, boxes, bits and pieces, in fact a general confusion. But here Moishe did his work, and by all accounts he did well. Of course to a young child there was an immediate fascination for everything in that room, and I derived the greatest pleasure from suddenly hearing a cuckoo and turning round to see it stick its head out from a little nest at the top of the cuckoo clock, or hearing the whirring of a grandfather clock is it worked its way towards a chime.
But something else stuck in my mind, and it was this quality that was unique. Grandfather was the most immensely friendly and generous person. No matter what he was doing, as soon as he had a voice in the shop, he would call through in his husky voice, and call the person in by name to come and talk to him. For someone to buy a shoe-lace perhaps, and to be made to feel at home, in the back room of a shop was something rather unique I feel. In fact, I don't think Moishe was too worried whether he sold many goods or not, just as long as there was someone there to chat to. No matter who the person was, they came into the back room and sat down. Of course, many of the market traders came in frequently. George, the Piermaster, was a particular favourite, and also the local policeman. But the ordinary passer-by didn't escape the attention of Moishe. A strange voice in the shop, and the curtain would part for Moishe to see who it was, and to introduce himself.
Quite often, someone would pop in and tell Moishe that there was something wrong with their watch. "Well, sit down and let's have a look", he would say. Then he'd introduce me. "This is my grandson Jonathan. He's come from Leeds to stay a while", he'd say, and then drop everything and try and find out what was wrong with the items that brought with to be repaired. If they couldn't stay, he'd tell them to leave their shopping there, do a little more, and call back in a short time. Can you get a service like that anywhere these days? I think you'd be hard pressed indeed! Quite often the problem would be fixed, there and then, at a small charge. There went another satisfied customer. Of course, the ritual chat took place, and quite often the repair itself would be the shortest job. Perhaps a five-minute job would entail the stay of a half hour or more for the customer, and sometimes there were quite a few in that room at one time. Not that I'm saying that grandfather kept them there against their will. Far from it. They wanted to stay. He'd always say to people, "My home is yours". And well he meant it.
But this didn't stop at the shop. No, indeed his home at 4 Melrose Street was the same. There was a room set aside in which he did repairs, and this was quite often visited by various members of the public and friends. In the living room, right in front of the television was his large padded high-backed chair with cushions on. To me in seemed huge but it was quite a large chair. I must admit that I couldn't wait for someone to ring the doorbell and for it to be someone with a watch repair. I knew that grandfather would retire to his work room and I could sit in that chair and watch the television. There are so many wonderful memories that come flooding back at this point that it makes you wonder if you couldn't write a book about experiences at that time. I know my parents would remember only too well the Scottie dog on which I went tumbling down the stairs on one occasion, and the day we brought a tortoise back from the pet shop round the corner. I remember letting Timmy out in the back yard amongst the shrubs, and losing him, but later finding him, putting him in cardboard box with lots of holes in the top and taking him home on the train. There were also the walks to the park with my father, playing on the swings and seeing the trains go by the far end of the park. There was a big paddling pool also where children would sail model boats. The water always seemed so clear, reflecting the blue sides and bottom of the pool. These are but a very few memories I have of Hull.
For me it is hard to put the memories of those days spent in Moishe's shop into words adequate to describe the scenes. But I'm sure that there are many today who will know exactly what I'm talking about when mentioning the shop. In putting down my thoughts I hope that I might have reminded some of times past, spent in that room with Moishe amongst his beloved clocks, if reminding they need. Perhaps it may not have been quite the same experience for them, but certainly for a very young boy, watching grandfather at work in the shop, passing the time of day with anyone who came in, is something I shall never forget. I feel a sense of loss in a way that I was not a little older, old enough to appreciate the conversations that went on in that room, for I'm sure that there would be a vast wealth of stories to be told. I also wonder whatever happened to George, the Piermaster, who seem to spend so much more time in the shop than he did at work!
What I feel proud of now, is something which I did not appreciate until a little later in life. I remember one day walking through Hull city centre and hearing someone, a total stranger, speaking of my grandfather as if he were their father. It gradually dawned on me that Moishe Davidson was probably one of the most well known and respected people in the city. Everyone seemed to know him personally, and thinking back to earlier days I would not be surprised if I saw good many citizens of Hull pass through that shop myself. I feel proud that Moishe Davidson was my grandfather. Perhaps it may sound little conceited, it certainly isn't meant to be, but I think he was proud of me. I recall always spending Passover together either at Hull or Leeds. Being an only child, I always had the privilege of doing my bit, and I can still see his face as I sang songs from the Mahzor. I may not have been very tuneful, but I think he derived a lot of joy from that, all the same.
I remember some years later, going back to the spot where Moishe's shop used to be. It had all been pulled down ready for redevelopment. The whole area had changed. All the little alleyways and back streets had disappeared, and the Pier itself had changed to some degree. And I think that there are many who would feel a great sense of loss that Moishe's shop is now gone. It seems a shame really, because I know that life will never be the same for our future generations. There was truly a character about that area, which I had sensed all those years ago. To me, it seems as though the area was one large family, coming and going, with Moishe's shop as the central focal point, almost a meeting place. Although only young at the time, I can see even now that there was something very special about those days, obviously helped by a very special person, Moishe Davidson. There was not the hustle and bustle of life as it is today, where people never seem to have the time to spend a few minutes with someone. Life seemed lazy and relaxed, and there was always the time and opportunity to have a chat with someone. Moishe was the epitome of that attitude, and it is a quality which I regret we have lost touch with today it seems. However, I shall always remember those days with the greatest of affection, and I'm sure that there are many others who will think back to those days with affection also.