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CHARITY SUNDEE
"Them as could affoerd it awwees 'ad new clothes fer th' Charity," said Jabez "Th'Sundee School ran a clothing club fer 'elp folks ite. Yer peed a bob or two a wik aw th'yeer rind an' then yer drawed it ite just afoer th'Charity. Thee peed yer interest on yer money an' aw. Ar reckon a lot o' childer wouldna 'ad owt new if it 'adna bin fer th'Sundee School.
A wik or two afoer th'Charity me mother used measure me up an' then fetch threy or foer suits from th'Co-op on appro. 'Er wouldna tak me ter th'shop 'cos 'er didna larke fer bey rushed inter buyin' things. 'Er could tak 'er tarme at wom an' 'ave a good feyl at th'stuff an' examine aw th'stitchin' an' sey if th'buttons 'ad bin sown on firm. It seymed fer tak 'ours fer try them suits on, an' in th'end 'er wouldna let me 'ave th'one wot just fitted me. Ar'ad fer'ave one wot was a bit big on me so's ar'd grow inter it.
(Wilf and Irene on Charity Sundee - 1929)
On Charity Sundee mornin' aw us young uns used walk rind in a procession fer show us new clothes off. Wey set off abite 'afe-past eight an wey walked miles. It's a funny thing but ar never remember it reenin' - it awwees seymed fer bey a roastin' 'ot dee. Ar used bey aw of a sweat in me new serge suit, an' me feyt 'ad blisters on 'em larke 'afe-cryns with me new shoes. Wey 'ad buns an' coffee 'afe wee through th'mornin', an' somebody awwees managed fer sheyd some coffee dine ther new clothes.
After us dinner, wey 'ad fer bey in th'Sundee School just turned two o'clock ready fer go on th'steege. Th'wenches 'ad fer wear wheyte frocks on th'steege. Ar remember one yeer when ar was singin' a duet with one o' theyse wenches. Instead o' comin' in a wheyte frock 'er come in a breyght red un. Ee! it was a reyght bobby-dazzler. 'Er stood ite larke a soer thumb an' it fair put me off me singin'.
Ther was a bloke neemed Ernie wot used sit on th'bottom row o' th'steege. 'Is job was fer sey we didna talk or fidget too much. But at th'service at neyght ey 'ad 'is 'ands full with them as fell asleyp.
Wot with that big walk rind in th'mornin' an' aw th' excitement ther was awwees a little un or two wot fell asleyp on ther perches. Some on 'em coulda dropped off th'steege onter th'floer if Ernie 'adna bin theer fer ketch 'em.
Th'Chapel was awwees crammed full. Folks 'ad fer come an' 'our or moer afoer service tarme if thee wanted bey sure o' a seyt. Owd Jim Viggars was a dab-'and at packin' folks in. It's a wonder them Chapel wo's didna start bulgin' ite. Dust know, sirree, ar've seyn 'im tak a fat un ite o' a pew an' put 'im on a cheer an' then put two thin uns in th'pew wheer ey'd 'ad th' fat un frum.
Ar remember one yeer when th'minister's weyfe turned up leete - wey were 'afe-wee through th'fost hymn. Th'steward 'adna got a seyt fer 'er but ey didna larke th'idea o' th' minister's weyfe standin' up. Ey tried pushin' 'er inter th'end o' one o' th' pews but 'er said ther wouldna bey room fer everybody when thee sat dine. So ey said: 'Ar'll tell yer wot fer do missus - when yer get ter th'last line o' th'hymm yo meeke sure fer sit dine fost, an' them others'll squeyze thersels in some road or other. An' thee did. But after th'service 'er reckoned 'er'd never bey th'reyght sheepe ever aggen."
A. Scott
Copyright - University of Keele |
