FUN in the country is one of the memories Mr Allan Crossley has of his childhood in Radcliffe.

Allan, who now lives in Little Lever, wrote down some recollections of life as a youngster living off Bolton Road in the 1930s and 40s.

One of his strongest recollections is of playing with other youngsters in the countryside.

Allan, his parents and sister Sylvia lived in a terraced house in Knob Row - which owed its name to the post tops on the front gates of properties.

Allan's friends played with two older boys, Norman and Harold Pickstone and their lurcher dog Gyp.

There were also Margaret and Annie Middleton, Nellie Brooks and Harold and Albert Worthington.

In those days, of course, you had to make your own entertainment.

Allan said: "Sometimes we were cruel and would blow up frogs or put them down girls dresses.

"In summer we would go down to the Dingle Lodge to swim or look for birds nest and watch waterhens on the canal.

"On the farm, everyone would help at harvest time. The traction engine towing the thrasher would trundle down the lane and set up near the stack."

The crop stack would then be cleared of any rodents.

"It was first ringed by chicken wire and the terriers were dropped in to catch the rats as they ran from the stack.

"Everyone worked together until the barley or wheat had been thrashed.Copious amounts of milky tea was supplied as it was hot and dusty work.

"The men and the older boys did the more dangerous jobs for the famer Jack Carr.

"He was a rotund, florid, bad-tempered, red-haired man who would shout orders.

"Mrs Carr was a tall thin woman and she gave good advice.

"One example was to always face forward when leading a horse with the bridle in your right hand so that you didn't get walked over."