Yorkshire Words Of The Week

It has been said that a “piece and two pen’orth” kept England going during and for some time after the second World War.

Almost all other food was rationed, even bread and potatoes at one time.

Our local fish and chip shop was known as “the mangle shop” because the fish was so thin that it looked as if it had been put through a mangle.

There were several ways of asking for fish and chips; “one of each”, “one of each with scraps” (bits of fried batter) and “twice” (two fish and two portions of chips).

For the less affluent, there were potato cakes; a slice from a large potato deep fried in batter, or fish cakes, a very thin piece of fish sandwiched between two slices of potato, battered and deep fried.

Your order was wrapped in a small piece of white paper and then in several layers of newspaper to keep it hot while it was taken home. Most fish friers asked customers to bring in their discarded newspapers for this purpose.

A treat was a fish and chip supper. One person queued in the shop. Back at home, plates were warmed, a pot of tea mashed and bread buttered (or margarined).

There was only one better way to eat them – in the street on a cold dark night, the chips almost too hot to eat and the heat warming frozen hands.

During the war, my father was an Air Raid Warden. Out patrolling the streets one night, an elderly lady shouted, “Is there a warden about?” Fearing she had a problem, my father hurried over to her. “Any fish ’oyles opp’n?” she asked.

From: Mike Reaks, Wensley, Leyburn, North Yorkshire.

My wife had to spend a few days in hospital, and during her absence, I wrote the following verses to her.

All these words and phrases were in everyday use during my 1940s’ childhood in Upper Wensleydale.

Ahs left This tiday – rigged – in t’Friarage Ahs sitting at heeame i mi char Efther fifty-odd ears of marridge Heeame’s dowly when Thoos nut thar.

Ah widnt say Theu leuked a bad leuk But ahve sin Thi leuking betther Ti say ow a luv Thi wad tak up a beuk But A thowt Thoo meight like this letther.

Thoo alluz was a grt fit gimmer That was plain for t’lads to see T’morn Thooll bi pushing a zimmer But Thoos still a fit gimmer tuh me.

Ah chasd Thi all over t’Oction A near papped misel catching Thi up Tiday there’s nut si much action. But heeame wiout Tuhs a dowly aud shop.

Ahve loved Thi sin fifty-odd ‘earsen An now Ah’ll tell Thi what Wiout mi own Rosie Pearson Heeames nobbut a dowly awd spot.

Thoos still t’same grand and loving lass A bit waffy an a bit cramly Thoo seun gits tewed an thi walkings wass But Thoos loved bi aw thi fambly.

Theu’s best weyfe an mother yan cud hev And though Thoo can scarcely tottle When thi new ip gits sattled in Thooll seun bi gaan full throttle.

Ah knaw su days when Ahs terble throng A meight snap at Thi fer nowt An fratch away – but it’s just mi way It dusnt really mean owt.

Seea Ahve just yah mooer thing ti say ti Thi Afooer A finally stsop Fratch how Ah may, a t’end o t’day Theu suits Mi teu a pop (Thoo alluz hez an Thoo alluz will).

PS Ah meight nut git in tuh si Thi t’morn

Ah hoape Thool nut bi poaked

There’s a grt fit blonde ere keeping mi wharrm...

Nah deeat git twined – it’s nobbut a joke.