Carol Parker's Story
I remember Seacroft being built. I came here in the war when I was just turned seven years of age. We got the wrong bus and had to get off at Dib Lane but we didn’t mind. We walked up the hill and when we got to the house it was marvellous. There was so much space. We’d been living at my grandma’s house. Downstairs there was a wringer with a wooden top and chairs and a dolly tub to do the washing. We didn’t have much else. In those days you paid for things weekly from Wigfalls.
We lived at the top end of Kentmere Avenue. At the Queen’s coronation in 1953 they were still building the houses. I used to play on the foundations of my present home. There was a lovely farm opposite where Grange Farm School is now. They were called Greysham. We got milk, butter and eggs there. They used to bring the cows up to the pastures where the ginnel to the club is now. It was lovely – there were dog roses and cowslips. We used to wander in the woods picking blackberries and wild flowers. We would wander down the Askets, which was what we called the bluebell wood then. They were such happy times. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere but Seacroft. I couldn’t bear to start all over again. I’ve known the lady next door since I was a child.
When the farm went they built a big block of three storey flats on the site. Basically this is still a good area. We have a good community constable so if we ever get any problems they are soon sorted out – anything like kids throwing stones, nothing serious.
There were no shops, pubs or churches when we moved up here. There was a Co-Op van, a big van. My mum used to make jugs of tea for them. People thought a lot of my mum. She was very kind. We weren’t rich but my dad had a good job in printing. She always helped people our. She didn’t work but she was a good manager. She made all her own bread and cakes and new cakes with egg and bacon on Fridays. She made her own pies: bilberry, blackberry, apples. My dad had a big garden just over the road from my present house. He made a really good job of growing his own veg, including potatoes and carrots. My little sister was born there, she was tiny. They were wonderful times. People don’t understand how wonderful all that was- no sharing land, toilets or anything like some people did. My mum and dad were wonderful.
My mum was also the church warden at St Richards, which is my church. I love being there because they are such a lovely group of friends and companions like a family. I really look forward to Sunday and going to see them. It’s like going home. Church is a big part of your life. I take it very seriously since my mum died. I have good friends at other churches in the area too. I sing in the choir at St James’s and my good friend Amy is from Our Lady of Good Counsel. Churches together is a lovely thing. Getting to know everyone is important for us all. At church we have a Summer Fayre and a Christmas Fayre. We do things like a free bouncy castle. We get toys together at Christmas and donate them to the more needy families, though there are no homeless people in Seacroft and nobody is really poor.
We didn’t really go as far as the village when I was young, just in the fields around here. Then when Seacroft Centre was built it had such character. The market was great and it was a meeting place so you’d just meet your friends and there’s nothing like that now. The Centre hasn’t been replaced and bus fares prevent some people from going to town. Even the bus journey to Crossgates has recently been split over two buses so it is more expensive with a long wait between buses. Of course the young ones can walk. I went to Parklands School and we walked to school and back in rain and sunshine, even in the thick of snow. That was Parklands Primary, where we did maypole dancing. Then I went to Coldcotes High School. I loved it. Coldcotes was a Girls School. Both my daughters went to Grange Farm and Parklands High. My eldest daughter is an Art Director and the younger one is a Civil Servant. We have always had good schools in Seacroft. The girl next door went to Our Lady. She became a teacher. They were a lovely family. I still exchange Christmas cards with one girl.
When I left school I worked for Alf Cooks printing. My dad worked for Waddingtons. He was well thought of there. I followed my aunt. I think the world of her. I thought they’d put me with her in the playing cards room printing playing cards at Crown Point in that lovely building, which is still there. But they put me in a separate department. It was so noisy I got headachy so I left and went to work in Fosters in Briggate. It was built over the arcade. I loved it there. I loved being in any beautiful old building. I love architecture. If I could be young now I’d go specialise in architecture. I am intrigued by church buildings and I have a passion for windmills. It is a shame that we cannot really see the Seacroft windmill now but I commissioned a painting by a local artist, May. That painting shows a full windmill in rolling fields with flowers and everything I asked to be there. It is marvellous.
I have lived most of my life in Seacroft and through all the building changes it is still a good place to live.
We lived at the top end of Kentmere Avenue. At the Queen’s coronation in 1953 they were still building the houses. I used to play on the foundations of my present home. There was a lovely farm opposite where Grange Farm School is now. They were called Greysham. We got milk, butter and eggs there. They used to bring the cows up to the pastures where the ginnel to the club is now. It was lovely – there were dog roses and cowslips. We used to wander in the woods picking blackberries and wild flowers. We would wander down the Askets, which was what we called the bluebell wood then. They were such happy times. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere but Seacroft. I couldn’t bear to start all over again. I’ve known the lady next door since I was a child.
When the farm went they built a big block of three storey flats on the site. Basically this is still a good area. We have a good community constable so if we ever get any problems they are soon sorted out – anything like kids throwing stones, nothing serious.
There were no shops, pubs or churches when we moved up here. There was a Co-Op van, a big van. My mum used to make jugs of tea for them. People thought a lot of my mum. She was very kind. We weren’t rich but my dad had a good job in printing. She always helped people our. She didn’t work but she was a good manager. She made all her own bread and cakes and new cakes with egg and bacon on Fridays. She made her own pies: bilberry, blackberry, apples. My dad had a big garden just over the road from my present house. He made a really good job of growing his own veg, including potatoes and carrots. My little sister was born there, she was tiny. They were wonderful times. People don’t understand how wonderful all that was- no sharing land, toilets or anything like some people did. My mum and dad were wonderful.
My mum was also the church warden at St Richards, which is my church. I love being there because they are such a lovely group of friends and companions like a family. I really look forward to Sunday and going to see them. It’s like going home. Church is a big part of your life. I take it very seriously since my mum died. I have good friends at other churches in the area too. I sing in the choir at St James’s and my good friend Amy is from Our Lady of Good Counsel. Churches together is a lovely thing. Getting to know everyone is important for us all. At church we have a Summer Fayre and a Christmas Fayre. We do things like a free bouncy castle. We get toys together at Christmas and donate them to the more needy families, though there are no homeless people in Seacroft and nobody is really poor.
We didn’t really go as far as the village when I was young, just in the fields around here. Then when Seacroft Centre was built it had such character. The market was great and it was a meeting place so you’d just meet your friends and there’s nothing like that now. The Centre hasn’t been replaced and bus fares prevent some people from going to town. Even the bus journey to Crossgates has recently been split over two buses so it is more expensive with a long wait between buses. Of course the young ones can walk. I went to Parklands School and we walked to school and back in rain and sunshine, even in the thick of snow. That was Parklands Primary, where we did maypole dancing. Then I went to Coldcotes High School. I loved it. Coldcotes was a Girls School. Both my daughters went to Grange Farm and Parklands High. My eldest daughter is an Art Director and the younger one is a Civil Servant. We have always had good schools in Seacroft. The girl next door went to Our Lady. She became a teacher. They were a lovely family. I still exchange Christmas cards with one girl.
When I left school I worked for Alf Cooks printing. My dad worked for Waddingtons. He was well thought of there. I followed my aunt. I think the world of her. I thought they’d put me with her in the playing cards room printing playing cards at Crown Point in that lovely building, which is still there. But they put me in a separate department. It was so noisy I got headachy so I left and went to work in Fosters in Briggate. It was built over the arcade. I loved it there. I loved being in any beautiful old building. I love architecture. If I could be young now I’d go specialise in architecture. I am intrigued by church buildings and I have a passion for windmills. It is a shame that we cannot really see the Seacroft windmill now but I commissioned a painting by a local artist, May. That painting shows a full windmill in rolling fields with flowers and everything I asked to be there. It is marvellous.
I have lived most of my life in Seacroft and through all the building changes it is still a good place to live.