Blast from the past

Lucy’s column for November 11th.
Pastlo…1
A blast from my past flew through cyber-space all the way from 6514 Joy Road, Dexter, Michigan, a couple of weeks ago. And if anybody from the Canal Street/Carrington Street area of Derby, circa late 50s, early 60s, remembers the corner off-licence there, run by Ray and Betty Greatorex, then their son Clive wants to hear from them.
I recall the couple who kept what was known as "the 10 o’clock shop" – presumably because it stayed open until 10 pm – and their children, though, 50 years on, I wouldn’t have known their names. But Clive reminisces about his parents rushing over to the Barley Corn Inn, Canal Street, which my parents kept for a while, for the last half-hour’s drinking. And it was there that I, apparently, gave him some Elvis 78s, which he still has, hanging on the basement of his home, in what looks from the photograph to be a shrine to the King.
With his missive came a few more photos, including one of his mum – now 85 – and me, at a dance. I’d have been about 20 at the time, and we were both dolled up to the nines, yours truly, in what must have been a Grace Kelly moment, sporting a strapless gown, what looks like my granny’s "good" pearls, hair done up in a chignon, and with not just a waist, but one measuring little more than 20 inches. That’s near enough my dress size today!
Another photograph is of customers presenting Betty and Ray with a clock, when they retired from the shop. I don’t recognise anybody, but these are some of the people Clive wants to track down because he’s writing an account of his life for his grandchildren – grandchildren? He’s nowt but a lad.
I’m still waiting to hear where his mother lives, and how he arrived on Joy Road, Dexter, but from images on Google Earth, Clive has done very well for himself because his house looks like Southfork.
Incidentally, he and his wife supported Barak Obama, Michigan being an Obama State, and this isn’t his first venture into the hallowed columns of the Derby Telegraph. A few years ago he wrote an article for Bygones on the group he played in during the 60s, as a lead up to the Big Beat Bash in 2002, at the old Locarno, which resulted in "hooking up" with a few old friends. He can be e-mailed on clive_gtx@yahoo.com
I’m not too sure these recollections of our youth do much for our today’s image.
Twice every year, I meet up with my friend Pauline Worthy, nee Cowley, formerly of Darley House Estate, which was a bit posh, and with whom I shared my primary school days, and teenage and early motherhood years. We had such a day just the other week. Pauline, still as bright, bubbly, and talkative as ever, is a constant reminder of my School Certificate failures – she went on to teacher training college, and by the age of 22, was teaching English and maths at a Matlock secondary school. She gave up teaching to go into a heady and Very High Powered career with the Civil Service. And during all this, she and husband Alan produced four strapping sons – two more than me.
She turns up in blue mascara, the latest must-have fashion, perfectly coiffed hair, and is totally wrinkle-free. She regularly reminds me of when I was the flirty, flighty, blonde bombshell of what was known as the Matlock monkey-run, which took us across the town’s stone bridge, along Dale Road to the wooden foot-bridge, and back along the Hall Leys park, all the while pretending not to be on the look-out for lads!
Memories are made of this. Perhaps readers could help Clive Greatorex with his.
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