WORKING class life in a Lancashire pit village would be an eye-opener for a generation reared on TV soaps, superstores, retail parks, internet access and e-bay auctions writes Brian Gomm, of the Leigh Journal

But Harry Hodson's recollections of growing up in the community of Hindsford between 1940 and 1960 bring to life what it was like growing up in the village over half a century ago.

Hindsford was once home to a thriving branch of the Co-operative movement, founded in 1886 at 43 Lord Street, though Harry's dad insisted they patronised the corner shop. Until the mid 1960s it was also the location of Chanters Colliery and enterprising characters made a little extra money selling bundles of firewood and coal picked from the colliery waste heaps.

More unscrupulous members of the community made the job a bit easier by raiding the coal wagons in the railway sidings but after nationalisation of the mining industry that was a bit risky and some paid for it by enjoying the hospitality of the government for a few months.

Brought up in Green Street, Harry has brought the day's of rationing, tin baths in front of the fire, crackling radios and divi day back to life in his newly-published book "Uncle Jack's Estate".

Black iron ranges, rubbing stones and pans of scraps simmering away for poultry mash were all part of everyday life as were comics like the "Dandy" and "Beano" and Radio Luxemburg.

Leigh Journal readers will know Harry, the engineer, now retired, who built a scale replica of the world famous Iron Bridge which now resides in the museum at the River Severn-side site which played such a huge part in the Industrial Revolution. Practical skills which his book reveals first emerged in woodwork classes at Hesketh Fletcher school.

Harry was the eldest of five children all born in quick succession in the wartime years. Young Harry was no worse off than most of his friends and neighbours, although he sometimes thought he was. He waited years for his first pushbike while an aquaintance had a succession of new ones and a steady stream of visitors to the door...

When Harry used to tire of squabbling with his brothers and sisters in their two up, two down he would go next door to 'Uncle Jack's'.

Uncle Jack 'John Willie' Howell was a retired colliery worker whose three bedroomed house was the envy of Harry's mother and filled with enough curios to occupy an Antiques Roadshow series.

When John Willie passed away Harry's father held an auction to empty the rented property handling the gavel so well he'd have done any avid e-bayer proud. Mind you, there were many buyers who hauled their booty away with more than a wink and a smile plus the odd sovereign or two!

Chopping up antique furniture for firewood may seem sacrilege now but that's what happened in those not too far distant days when Vienna regulators and Clarice Cliff items could sometimes be found in humble households.

'Uncle Jack's Estate' is an intriguing insight into times past. You might even find yourself within its pages but modest Harry has altered some of the names to protect the innocent - or the guilty!

Copies of 'Uncle Jack's Estate' are available from the author at £8.99 (plus £1 p & p) and can be ordered by calling him on 01942 793846. You can get an insight into the flavour of the book by looking up the website www.authorsonline.co.uk and searching under the author's name or title.