Visiting My Home Town
I’ve had a few days off sick because of a cold that seemed more than a cold and more like bronchitis. It’s gone now. Yesterday I took a drive north and visited my home town, Stockport, stood on the spot where I was born. walked the field of my youth, drove roads of my paper round and looked down on the old mills along the Mersey river. I felt nothing but gratitude for my parents and the sacrifices they made to lay a path for my future. Filming was pleasure for me because the evocative fondness I had in feelings there just flooded in one after then other.
Stockport is not so pretty. You can’t say it is, but though it has no redeeming prettiness it’s the child’s perspective of good that cuts through to the core beyond the bad. Standing, riding, walking, running, listening, smelling took me into pockets of silent appreciation and then the arm-raising expression of visible thanks of the goodness expressed in your growing years that matter. In Stockport I became a woodworker equipped to start a life so enriched I would never have thought it possible. My background was poor in many ways but so rich I doubt that many would see such richness in their lifetime.
There were people there that really impressed me. Young people. A car park attendant showed me how the system worked and told me things about payment I never saw before. Two graduates from university who were very kind to me told me about their work as an outlet providing markets for dozens of other graduates working in the same building to sell their new designs. A woman stopped as I was filming on the spot where I served my apprenticeship. We talked and I explained who I was and why I was filming. It was nice telling someone who knew nothing of me about who i was as a furniture maker. Cobbled streets and cast iron posts I remembered great detail of from my boyhood but that spot where i received instruction; now that spot meant something to me as did looking at the house where I was born and thought about my very first woodworking days.
Anyway, I did vlog and I do think I will be sharing soon.
I was born in Greenwich uk many many years ago. I often return to the very house where I came into this life, visiting the River Thames where I often use to roam along the beaches climbing all over the barges, picking up the drift wood, Greenwich Park and Blackheath. Still a part of my life, when I visit I wonder where did all them years go.
Only ten minutes ago I was showing a friend the house I grew up in and the streets I walked as a teen and where I went to school it’s so strange the memories that come flooding back ,a very timely post fhanks for sharing, Eddy
wish I’d have known I could have come and had a coffee with you, I’m only up the road from there.
same here I live in stockport and would have been amazed to see paul walking on the street, I would not be able to stop myself from saying hello, he’s right about it not being pretty though.
I would not say not pretty. There is something I find interesting. There is something I find interesting in old buildings. Even the old dilapidated ones. I always wonder who built them, who worked in them, what where the people like, what was their lives like, what did it look like back then… I love history and I love craftsmanship. I once visited the UK a few years ago and thought it was a beautiful place and very interesting. I do look forward to your vlog. I love listening to stories from times gone past.
As a long term resident of Stockport, although not a native, I can agree that while it may not be the prettiest place on earth (West Highlands and islands of Scotland win that) it is still a place with much going on.
I’m sure you’ll be pleased to know that there is a thriving woodworking club that is based in a high school in Hazel Grove which is an area of Stockport. The club is nearly always over subscribed, and not only do we meet to enjoy woodwork together, we have become long term friends and enjoy social activities other than woodwork. (Pub, curry, bbq etc)
The club has people aged between their early 20s and into our mid 50s, and we have had older and younger members previously. It is a pleasure to learn from one another as well as from our tutor who is a long serving (suffering?) teacher at the school, and I’m always reminded how pleasant it is to enjoy a hobby along with others.
As for Stockport being somewhat aesthetically challenged, well we only have to travel a short distance into the Cheshire countryside and the Peak District National Park to remedy that situation.
All I said was it’s not pretty. Not that it wasn’t/isn’t a special place to me. I thoroughly enjoyed being back and plan to spend more time there this coming year Stockport. I still know Stockport like the back of my hand which means most main things have stayed in place. I enjoyed being with my family (in Hazel Grove) where my daughter teaches. I’ve chased all over the Peak district, as a rock climber I have climbed any and every rock that didn’t move so not Mam Tor. I in no way complained about Stockport. Always felt welcome there.
Hello Paul, I realise that you weren’t doing down Stockport and there was no suggestion of being miffed at what you said.
I’ve just caught up with your VLOG 005, and was moved to hear that you’d been a police officer in Manchester. Last year I completed my 30 years service with GMP , and am now spending most of my time woodworking with hand tools, although I spend too much time reviving old planes and saws etc. I hope to have my workshop completed early next year and I have a business plan to produce furniture to my own design.
Thank you for having provided such inspiration and advice over the years, it’s really like having your own personal tutor with your blogs and videos. Discovering that you were once a bobby just puts the icing on the cake for me. One other thing I’d like to mention are your wonderful drawings which I think are superb and elevate your latest book greatly.
I hope we get the chance to talk someday in person.
Next time I am in Stockport, two or three months time, we should at least get coffee together.
That would be great, do let me know when you.re here next. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas.
hello steven, can you tell me more about the club and how I can join? that sounds really good, I live in Hazel Grove and never knew about this, where can I find out more information? regards, Ben.
Hello Ben,
It’s based at Hazel Grove High School on Jacksons Lane. It runs on a Wednesday evening during term time. I think that there are some places available. If you were to contact the school directly, I’m sure that could provide you with the necessary details.
Paul, I love reading your blogs, but this one had special meaning to me. Although I live in the U.S. my ancestors came from Stockport in the 1860’s. As I understand it, Stockport was a big cotton processing center then. The American Civil War started and the ‘north’ put a naval blockade on the ‘south’ (where all the cotton was grown). No cotton caused big problems in Stockport, some of which caused several of my ancestors to come to America. I’ve never been there, but I imagine Stockport to be a wonderful place with wonderful people. Thank you.
Paul I wonder if you ever visited the staircase cafe Stockport? Named from the lovely( Jacobean? ) staircase neglected and abused for a long time. Strangely the fact that a vandal set fire to the derelict building led to the archaeological investigation of its past and revealing parts of its timber frame construction.A modern day craftsman painstakingly restored what was left of the staircase. it resulted in the staircase house museum opening on the site which gives a visible insight into its previously unsuspected historical development .
Hi Paul, I use to visit Stockport a good few times throughout the years before moving to Belfast, Co Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK. Totally agree with you, nothing special about Stockport; apart the people of Stockport, which I fine them are very nice and welcome everyone with open arms. and assist anyone if they can. I use to live in Crewe for approx 9 years before moving to Belfast.