"Birthday happiness turns to tragedy" Leeds by CliffClaven

Leeds Travel Guide: 568 reviews and 1,556 photos

Birthday happiness turns to tragedy - Leeds

Old Cliffie has never forgotten those words, which headlined a newspaper story he wrote many years ago. He was young Cliffie then, fresh out of school, with all the confident innocence and certainty about life that all young people have.

He was sitting in the reporters' room one morning, feet on the desk, drinking from a cracked cup and pretending to be a hotshot newshound, when the telex printer in the corner clattered into life with breaking news of an accident at a nearby coalmine.

Half an hour later the grizzled sub-editor, who had learned his job way back in the harsh days of the 1930s, handed young Cliffie a piece of paper with a name and an address and gruffly ordered: 'One of the victims, get round there, we need a story and a picture, on my desk by three o'clock'.

Young Cliffie found the address in a row of grim, 19th-century colliery houses. The wife was upstairs, being comforted by neighbours. The son, also a miner, silently handed over a photograph of his father. The daughter rocked gently on the settee and kept repeating softly, 'But it's my birthday today, but it's my birthday today.'

Young Cliffie had his story filed in time for the evening edition. But he lost some of his innocence and certainty about life that day.

  • Intro Written Sep 9, 2002
  • Add to Trip Planner (?)
  • Report Abuse

Reviews (6)

Where's there's muck, there's brass - Leeds Where's there's muck, there's brass Local Customs (2)

Yorkshiremen have a habit of commenting that 'where there's muck, there's brass', referring to the mining and industrial... more travel advice

A pint with Parkinson - Leeds A pint with Parkinson Local Customs (2)

When young Cliffie joined the newspaper in South Yorkshire all those years ago, he took over from a young reporter who... more travel advice

Dour booggers - Leeds Dour booggers Things to Do (2)

Yorkshire cricketers don't go for the flashy flamboyance of 'them booggers down south'. Their famous batsmen - Herbert... more travel advice

Settle rail line - Leeds Settle rail line Transportation (1)

Threatened with closure 20 years ago, the Leeds-Settle-Carlisle railway line now offers a daily service for 72 miles... more travel advice

Comments (6)

  • Reply
    paulhanson's Profile Photo
    Jul 12, 2009 at 12:49 AM

    Intriguing title, sad story

  • Reply
    Steviestarr's Profile Photo
    Sep 24, 2007 at 1:48 PM

    I've read a fair few of your "adventures" Cliffie. This one was different. You should write a book about your travels bro, you have a rare talent.

  • Reply
    uglyscot's Profile Photo
    Apr 20, 2007 at 6:42 AM

    Leeds in the 6os? I was there from time to time - Family friends. Ex-army type and his dumpy bingo playing wife.. Kept us stocked up with gadgets she 'd won. Parky and the King of Spain. Must search the old memory and try to top them ....

  • Reply
    Bilimari's Profile Photo
    Oct 30, 2006 at 8:00 AM

    I spend a half day in Leeds last month. I'd like to go back to spend more time exploring the town. -Motoko-

  • Reply
    floss1's Profile Photo
    Jul 19, 2002 at 9:43 AM

    Nice Page!!!

  • Reply
    angel-eyes's Profile Photo
    Jun 24, 2002 at 5:55 AM

    Sad sad story

CliffClaven's Related Pages

Leeds Travel Guide

 
Explore the World
Travel Destinations
CliffClaven's Profile Photo

CliffClaven

“"The heart is sad for golden friends I had"”

Online Now

Male

Top 5,000 Travel Writer
Member Rank:
0 1 1 2 8
Forum Rank:
0 1 0 1 4

Badges & Stats in Leeds

  • 6 Reviews
  • 7 Photos
  • 0 Forum posts
  • 7 Comments
  • 845PageViews
  • See All Stats
  • See All Badges (5)

Have you been to Leeds?

  Share Your Travels  

Latest Activity in Leeds

Photos in Leeds

See All Photos (7)

Top 10 Pages

See All Travel Pages (89)

Friends

See All Friends (27)

Latest Leeds hotel reviews

Quebecs - a Summit Hotel
411 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 14, 2013
Malmaison Hotel Leeds
446 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 15, 2013
Headingley Lodge
93 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 14, 2013
Jurys Inn Leeds
418 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 14, 2013
Highbank Hotel
12 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Mar 28, 2012
Discovery Inn Leeds
166 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 17, 2013
De Vere Oulton Hall Hotel Leeds
857 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 16, 2013
Moderno y estiloso hotel en el centro de Leeds
403 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 12, 2013
The Queens
1040 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 15, 2013
City Inn Leeds
1205 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 13, 2013
Travelodge Leeds Vicar Lane
190 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 16, 2013
Holiday Inn Express Leeds East
154 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 17, 2013
Radisson SAS Hotel Leeds
403 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 12, 2013
Ibis Leeds Centre
309 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 13, 2013
Bewleys Hotel Leeds
424 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 13, 2013