Myself at 17 Years of Age

This picture was taken in 1941, when I was 17.

We used to go to the picture house in the village a lot, when I was in my late teens. Two different films were shown every week. We used to get dressed up, and go there on Friday nights. We'd sit in the 4d seats at the back of the stalls. We'd have a packet of gums, and a bar of chocolate. It was wonderful!

Another strong memory I have of that time is of Bradford city centre, and the haze that hung over it. You could see it from Thornton Village, because it's higher than the city. There were hundreds of mill chimneys sending out smoke, day and night. You could hear a dull hum from all the mills. I remember going into Bradford at night with my mum, when I was a boy - the mills would be going like mad, and the smell of the fats in the wool would come out, and hang around the city.