This Friday I will be handing a petition I have instigated to Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron concerning a building here in town.

Even though he must be extremely busy I am very pleased he can find the time to come and support little old Sedbergh.

I first heard of the Liberal party when I was 15 through the parents of my childhood friend Adrian. I had no interest in politics, but I did take a fancy to the chairman of the young Liberals. However, Pat and Sidney, Adrian’s mum and dad, were local Liberal party members and a significant influence in my formative years.

The first thing I noticed about them was when I called for Adrian, Pat, would always open the door fully and invite me inside. Whereas my mum would only open the door a crack and timidly ask who it was. As for inviting someone inside, not likely. Mind you, if we were getting a payout from the Pru the insurance man would be invited into the front room and in some cases offered a cup of tea. Pat and Sidney, had come from upper class backgrounds but had fallen on hard times. They were living on an estate on the wrong side of the tracks on the edge of London. They were well educated and didn’t own a television. Mainly because they couldn’t afford one, so evenings were passed in discussion. The subjects were wide and varied and a total eye opener for me. These people were so sophisticated, they even had wine with dinner which was at eight, not like us, tea with tea at five. Pat was always very confident and once, when the furniture was repossessed she told neighbours it was going away to be recovered.

Sidney worked in Walthamstowe, about ten miles from Woodford, and often had to walk because he didn’t have the bus fare. If my Dad didn’t have the money to lend him he would give Sidney a lift on the back of his Francis Barnett motorbike. Not a ride for the faint hearted.

Adrian and I remained good friends right up until we left Woodford in 1967 and I often wonder where life has taken him.