The
gentleman I’m introducing to you this time is Jim McCafferey, a chap born
and bred in Miles Platting. He was actually born in Gleden Street, in 1924.
Their house was back door-to-back door to my Mum and Dad’s house where
I was born.
Jim had a brother and two sisters. Unfortunately, his brother
Bill was killed in 1945; while fighting in France during the Second World War,
he was only eighteen.
I used to play out with Jim’s two sisters, Monica and Mary quite a lot
in Gleden Street when we were youngsters.
Jim’s father was a local lad; he was born in Cobden Street,
in 1900. His name was William and he died when Jim was only eight years old
in 1932.
His mothers name before she married was Mary Law. She was born in Harpurhey
in 1900 and she died in 1972.
Jim’s Mum and Dad were married at St Anne’s Church
in Ancoats on May 21st 1921, that’s when they went to live in Gleden Street.
Jim
himself served in the Royal Army Medical Corps, from 1942 mostly in and around
the Mediterranean. After his army days were over Jim started working for the
gas industry and stayed in this employ for 46 years.
He was a staunch churchman and when he came out of the army
in 1946 his church and charity work started in earnest.
He became parish secretary of the St Vincent De Paul Society.
A Catholic organisation dedicated to visiting the sick at home and in hospital.
His local church was Corpus Christi. You would have thought all that was enough
to keep him busy during his spare time, but no! Jim started to train the youngsters
at Corpus Christi in the art of boxing.
Eventually they were invited to go to Dublin to the Stella
Maris Boys Club with a gentleman by the name of Bernard Kelly.
Jim eventually met Eileen Byrne from Clayton. They were married
in 1955 at St Stephens’s church in Droylsden. They had two sons Timothy
and Dominic.
In 1982 when the Pope came to Manchester, Jim was chosen as
one of his stewards. This was indeed a great honour for Jim and a year later
in 1983 he was awarded the British Empire Medal, for his service to the Gas
Industry and for all his charity work.
So now you know that another local lad has done really well
in this world of ours. I just hope that I’ve done him justice in writing
this article.
Jim now lives in Audenshaw with his wife Eileen, where
their sons come to visit and enjoy their company.
Alf Almond
