Once my family went back to Leeds, the house seemed, for about an hour - much bigger, and for a few days much too quiet.... the summer days waned into a rainy northumberland August and then suddenly revived for what I hoped was an Indian summer by the 'grim up norths' standards... at this point I had forgotten there was a Bank holiday looming ha ha ... anyway before it rained again I spent a couple of pleasant days gardening and reading a really interesting book called 'Song For My Father' by Ian Clayton. Ian Clayton is a writer / journalist / tv presenter and I feel sure I have unwittingly come across him, probably on Yorkshire television but I have never seen his books before. I happened on this one as I ran through the library to return books which were almost overdue - not intending to borrow as I had the family staying and I didn't have time to browse but this just caught my eye and I picked it up. (its hard to leave the library without something!)
I'm glad I did as not only was it a good read but so much of it reverberated with me - not so much his up bringing which I think will ring a bell with many people brought up in the pit villages of West Yorkshire but just his general experiences of life and growing up, of living in what I never really realised was 'poverty' and while there was much I could share what resounded first was his description of discovering the library and realising you can borrow books...
'' the library is a wonder. It smells of must and polish and old paper. There is a sparkling parquet floor and rows and rows of oak shelving''
When his father scoffs at him reading books.. saying
'Aye, well, tha might read it, but tha wont be able to eat it will tha?
He was wrong, I devoured it. And I devoured the next book I borrowed as well and the next one after that and then I found that you could borrow three books at a time, so i started feeding on three at a time' Song For My Father - Clayton pge 71
This echoed my experience - From being very little I loved books and more then anything I loved the library. I was lucky we lived in a bookish home with parents that were well read and encouraged us to be the same. My brother and I were taught to read long before we got to school and I was allowed to join the library at the end of our street as soon as I was strong enough to open the huge oak and glass swing doors on my own... I wasn't tall enough to see over the counter and used to think I was very special to be able to go round the back to announce my arrival and return my books. Our Library was very special too - it was paneled and furnished by the mouse man Robert Thompson, and while not appreciating how lovely this was I did take great delight in looking for the mice and trying to decide whether they had moved since my last visit... I do recall spending quite a bit of effort trying to convince my younger brother they did move.
Sadly that Library is long gone replaced by a shiny modern affair which serves a purpose (and probably has more books) but has little of the character of the original. I have stayed a member all my life and currently belong to the local library up here in Northumberland. They are a precious resource and need to be used or we will lose them- as an impoverished student I cant afford to feed my book habit so the library is like life blood to me.
Back to Ian Claytons book, so much of it reminded my of my years growing up in Leeds, the 11 plus entrance exam, the music references, the references to politics and family life for those not well off in the 60's and 70's. I love the way he tells a story, it feels real and its down to earth, Ian clayton is an entertaining chap and despite a life which obviously involves a certain amount of fame and fortune - interviewing posh people- royalty included - and ordinary folk with tales to tell, he lives in the real world - Coronation Street included! He comes across as grounded and his up bringing reflects true values. His honesty about his family and his take on every day events are refreshing. Andy Kershaw calls him an 'accidental social historian' and I think that sums him up perfectly. I will be looking out for more of his books.
I'm glad I did as not only was it a good read but so much of it reverberated with me - not so much his up bringing which I think will ring a bell with many people brought up in the pit villages of West Yorkshire but just his general experiences of life and growing up, of living in what I never really realised was 'poverty' and while there was much I could share what resounded first was his description of discovering the library and realising you can borrow books...
'' the library is a wonder. It smells of must and polish and old paper. There is a sparkling parquet floor and rows and rows of oak shelving''
When his father scoffs at him reading books.. saying
'Aye, well, tha might read it, but tha wont be able to eat it will tha?
He was wrong, I devoured it. And I devoured the next book I borrowed as well and the next one after that and then I found that you could borrow three books at a time, so i started feeding on three at a time' Song For My Father - Clayton pge 71
This echoed my experience - From being very little I loved books and more then anything I loved the library. I was lucky we lived in a bookish home with parents that were well read and encouraged us to be the same. My brother and I were taught to read long before we got to school and I was allowed to join the library at the end of our street as soon as I was strong enough to open the huge oak and glass swing doors on my own... I wasn't tall enough to see over the counter and used to think I was very special to be able to go round the back to announce my arrival and return my books. Our Library was very special too - it was paneled and furnished by the mouse man Robert Thompson, and while not appreciating how lovely this was I did take great delight in looking for the mice and trying to decide whether they had moved since my last visit... I do recall spending quite a bit of effort trying to convince my younger brother they did move.
Sadly that Library is long gone replaced by a shiny modern affair which serves a purpose (and probably has more books) but has little of the character of the original. I have stayed a member all my life and currently belong to the local library up here in Northumberland. They are a precious resource and need to be used or we will lose them- as an impoverished student I cant afford to feed my book habit so the library is like life blood to me.
Back to Ian Claytons book, so much of it reminded my of my years growing up in Leeds, the 11 plus entrance exam, the music references, the references to politics and family life for those not well off in the 60's and 70's. I love the way he tells a story, it feels real and its down to earth, Ian clayton is an entertaining chap and despite a life which obviously involves a certain amount of fame and fortune - interviewing posh people- royalty included - and ordinary folk with tales to tell, he lives in the real world - Coronation Street included! He comes across as grounded and his up bringing reflects true values. His honesty about his family and his take on every day events are refreshing. Andy Kershaw calls him an 'accidental social historian' and I think that sums him up perfectly. I will be looking out for more of his books.
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