On asking for a job at May’s the Pawnbrokers on Rochdale Road she was told there wasn’t a vacancy, but was offered a job at their shop in Greengate Salford. She took a little time to settle into her new job, and because she could write, she was soon given the job of completing the ledgers. When things had to be written twice over in the columns Edie used a little tool to save her from writers cramp, She had a piece of wood with holes drilled into it, small enough to fit two pens, the holes were drilled the correct distance apart for the columns, to enable Edie to hold one and write with it and the other would write in the next column without any extra effort from her! (Genius).

Edie remembers as a young lady the great Salford Flood in the 1940s, homes were ruined and possessions lost. Tokens were issued to the victims to get some clothing and bedding etc. Edie recalls “sometime the goods they received were pawned to raise cash for things more to the victims taste!”

Until the birth of her twin daughters Edie worked for various pawnbrokers in the Manchester and Oldham areas’ and worked her way up until she knew all about the business. Her many encounters and experiences have left her with a fund of anecdotes and memories which form the basis of the many entertaining ‘after dinner talks’ that she now gives.

Edie is a talented lady and now that she is retired she pursues her hobbies, which include reading, Painting in oils and water-colours and writing poetry much of which is written in the Lancashire dialect. Edie has had a book of her poems published and there is a copy in the archives at Clitheroe Castle. At the moment she is also writing a book of her memories which she hopes to get published when it’s finished.
Tom Connor

click for Ediths poems