Whitsun’ in the late 40s early 50s

During this period Whit week was known as Manchester Holidays but people in the building trade would have to work Whit Monday then take Thursday and Whit Friday off. This was because it was assumed all in the building trade were Irish-Catholics who did not recognise Whit Monday.In those days marriages between Roman Catholics and Church of England were frowned upon.

There was a character by the name of Frazer, who two weeks before whit week would visit the Oldham Street pubs with his one-man-band, which was a mouth organ, cymbals tied to his knees and a beer bottle with two spoons in the top. He would walk into a packed pub and stand near the door which he would back-heel (this was his makeshift drum!) “And here they are coming down Market Street!” He would shout! Banging the cymbals and shaking the bottle and spoons, then he played Sons of the Sea on his harmonica. Everyone would be jiggin’ afterwards his cap would be passed around to be filled with pennies, ‘tanners’ and the odd couple of ‘bob’.

On Whit Monday the barrow boys would sell the orange boxes for a ‘florin’ (10p in todays money), so people could have a kerbside seat. When the schools and bands had all gone, the barrow boys would collect the abandoned boxes and sell them again on Whit Friday! Later there would be dancing on the concrete as it was known. This was Janet Street, where Eddie Philbin and his Kerry Pipers could be found still entertaining the people. Then there was Sunday night to look forward to, when the Italian Society did their walk of faith from St. Michael’s Church.
Wilf Lowry.