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Foulridge - one of our most picturesque villages
THIS week, our column spotlight falls on what is today and indeed, has been for centuries, one of Lancashire's most picturesque and charming of all its many villages.
Yes, as seen here in a most scenic view, the ancient village of Foulridge has a truly olde-world charm. This 1950s scene is just one of the many excellent photogs captured of Foulridge and its environs by the late cameraman of great repute, Alan Spencer.
The majestic, Gothic-style, St Michael and All Angels Church, built in 1905 for just 6,230, was the subject of a most detailed portfolio of pictures taken by Alan during the late '40s and then the resulting scenes were compiled into a special binder by the artist and businessman, Allen Exley OBE.
Allen lived in the village for many years in the enchanting and stylish residence of Cressington in Skipton Old Road. My first visit to Allen's elegant home was well over a half-century ago when I was a grocer's boy, working at Foulridge Co-op store and on delivering the weekly groceries, got to know him and, over the years, he kindly presented me with many local photos and around half-a-dozen of his superb, water-colour paintings of Colne, Wycoller and Foulridge.
Allen, always a true gentleman, had an astounding knowledge of the history of the area which, on one occasion back in the summer of 1979, tested his good nature to the very limit!
A hot June evening 30 years ago saw the then editor of this very newspaper, the now legendary, Noel Wild, and myself at the Lane Ends Inn, along Higher Reedley Road, Brierfield. Noel was, as he would often say, "in fine fettle" and having sunk around half-a-dozen of his favourite tipple Chivas Regal, began on his marvellous "tales of yesteryear", telling of the many personalities he had met during his long journalistic career.
The notable names, both famous and infamous, echoed out into the Lane Ends as the night darkened outside: Ernest Bevin, Neville Cardus, Sir Gordon Richards, Sir Learie Constantine, Primo Carnera and then Noel said casually: "Oh, and during the war, I saw Kathleen Ferrier in Barnoldswick"!
I stared at Noel in amazement. Surely our world-famous contralto had never sung in Barlick! "A fiver says she did", cried Noel and then grabbed hold of the phone book saying, "Here's proof Geoff, ring this number". I looked at the pub clock to see the hands on 1-45 a.m. and said to Noel: "I can't ring someone at this hour"!
Noel then picked up the phone and with his famous smile, dialled the number. After a couple of minutes, Noel's voice boomed into the receiver, "Allen, old lad, tell Geoff when Miss Ferrier came to Barlick"?
The phone now to my ear, I could hear the taciturn and reserved voice of Allen Exley OBE, saying: "Noel's correct, it was in 1943".
As my face fell and I replaced the phone, Noel in great glee cried out: "I knew Allen would know. A fiver, old lad"!
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Print this page- Weekly Golf Results - September 21st
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Weather for Pendle
Sunday 05 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 2 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -1 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North west
