The fish that got away ...

It brought to mind a story my late dad told me, of when he was a young boy, perhaps about nine or 10 years.

He had wanted to join “the gang”.

These were boys just a bit older than he was.

They said that, in order to do so, he must first do a forfeit.

What he had to do was to grab the big fish that was always on display, on the cold slab in the open window of Hodgson fishmonger’s, and run off with it.

My dad was not very tall (I think the fish may have been bigger than he was).

He grabbed the fish, slung it over his shoulder and tried to run with it.

Needless to say, a very angry fishmonger chased after him and he dropped it.

It had a happy ending.

The fish was returned to its rightful owner and my dad joined the gang.

My dad was Joe Donnison.

He was born in 1918 and he lived in 3 Longmore Street, off Sydenham Road.

The street is no longer there as I think Belle Vue Way is now where it used to be.

Oh happy days!

Christine Ward (nee Donnison),

Hartfields,

Hartlepool.