Family Of Four: Greenhead Park
...Before school days, and afterwards, during the holidays, we spent a great deal of time in Greenhead Park. Off we would set with one child in the go-cart, and strapped on behind the dear little half-moon shaped basket containing robin cake for our lunch. We chose to take with us tops and whips, and ran along bowling our wooden hoops skilfully....
Mrs Vivien Hirst, who grew up in a Yorkshire mill town, tells of enchanting days in the nearby municiple park.
Mrs Hirst's nephew, Raymond Prior, loved to hear her stories of ealier imes when he was a boy. He gathered her reminiscences into a book, Family Of Four. Click on that title in the menu on his page to read earlier chapters of her story.
Before school days, and afterwards, during the holidays, we spent a great deal of time in Greenhead Park. Off we would set with one child in the go-cart, and strapped on behind the dear little half-moon shaped basket containing robin cake for our lunch. We chose to take with us tops and whips, and ran along bowling our wooden hoops skilfully.
The Park was large with several good places for children to hide. The Bandstand with its wide paving all around was a favourite spot. The circular fountain too, at the bottom end among the flower beds, had an even wider pavement, and it was shaped so that large rounded projections appeared at intervals, ideal for bobbing behind. There were handsome terraces with many steps, and as we grew older we used to wriggle through the square holes in the stone balustrade, dropping on to the grass on the other side above massive rhododendron bushes, where we could scarcely be seen. In time, however, "Bobby" Smith, the Guardian of the Park, discovered our new game and discouraged us there and then.
There were two ponds, the top and larger one containing a variety of ducks, many very pretty, which we watched and fed frequently. (After the Second World War, this pond, or lake, was filled in but the grass followed the same shape.) On one side were picturesque grottos where we sheltered when it rained. In the largest one, afternoon tea was served during the season of the band performances. For a few coppers one was admitted into the enclosure around the pond, and it was a very special treat to dress in my smarter clothes and sit with Mummy listening to the Band, usually presented by a famous regiment in their fine uniform.
I especially enjoyed the Highland Dancers who gave their exhibition on a platform built out in front of the bandstand. The sword-dances were most beautifully executed, and the high "y-ha" called to the Scottish blood within me! Then we would stroll round the pond, smiling and nodding, or speaking to many people whom we knew, all looking fashionable and smart, before joining the crush in the grotto, or sitting at little tables outside to enjoy afternoon tea, or ices, or strawberries and cream.
In a secluded part of the Park was a red, stone-built fountain, with the figure of Rebecca pouring water from her jug into the small well. We would clamber over the great stones mounting high and continuing round the sides to form two arches, under which people passed now and again to the huge recreation ground, where flower shows, horse-jumping, and firework displays were presented during the summer. I think there was neither nook nor cranny which we did not know and love in the whole place. It was very quiet in those days and we met only a few, and usually the same people, so that the nurses enjoyed it and made friends, chatting on the seats under spreading trees, or round the flower beds.
"Bobby" Smith, the retired policeman, was quite a character. Of a good age, very big and portly, with a swelling, bulbous nose (made so by drink it was whispered), he paraded up and down and around, nodding to the nurses and making friends with the children, pursuing his slow, dignified way, leaning on his stick with a rolling motion, almost as though he had been a sailor. We looked on him as a friend we had always known.
Sometimes he would be tormented by small boys, who knew he never could catch up with them when they did something forbidden; but, nothing daunted, old "Bobby" gave chase. Bellowing at the top of his voice, breathing fire and thunder, stick at the ready, his waddling gait became more pronounced than ever; and if he never caught them he never failed to do his duty and make endeavour.
