Barrow Boys Gt Yarmouth
By JOHN ATTWOOD
Those were the days I was born 1950 and at the age of 10 years I started to earn a livining with my Barrow that my father (Tosh) had made from old wood and pram wheels.
We lived on Audley St right next to Beach Coach Staion as it was Beach Station and going through my childhood I remembered the Steam Trains and there whistle's and smoke rising from the platform roof.
I use to stand outside the booking office double doors and was known by the staff and when it became a coach station also as I was a regular there on a Saturday , and during the week I would go there and pass my playtime with my freinds. The Barrow boys came from all parts of the town and we got to be freinds and rivals with each other.
But when we had problems with the taxi drivers we would all stick to together , as they didnt like us nicking there trade. I use to earn quite a lot as I was on the scene early about 6am and carried on all day till about 5pm. During this period I would nip indoors for a bite to eat and drink being close by and this would save me money on food but I always had my sweets.
The longest trip was Caister but I didnt do this many times, I never charged and always left it up to the customer but some of them was realy mean so I started charging a basic rate and hoped for a tip.
During the week I worked for Teddy Spurgen Newsagents as a paperboy doing morning and evening papers seven days a week, he was opposite the Gaibaldi Hotel on St Nicholas Rd.
Well those were the days.