"Birthday happiness turns to tragedy" Leeds by CliffClaven

Leeds Travel Guide: 568 reviews and 1,556 photos

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
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Reviews (6)

Comments (6)

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

    Intriguing title, sad story

  • 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.

  • 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 ....

  • 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-

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

    Nice Page!!!

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

    Sad sad story

CliffClaven

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

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