The family moved to Cheetham Hill, where Andrew attended St. Chad’s School. “We moved back to Miles Platting in 1937. I went to St. Edmund’s School, in Monsall Street. Finally, I went to Manchester School of Art, in All Saints.”

Andrew’s first job after he left school was at Morgan and Crossley, doing war work.

“At night I was a projectionist at the Playhouse Cinema.
Then after the war I worked full-time there till 1946, but I wanted a career in art so I worked for Norman Marron, a signwriter. While I was with Norman I was doing a bit of moonlighting, painting scenery at the Mancunian Film Studio on Dickinson Road. Anyone who worked there was roped in as an ‘extra’ as well! I worked with the famous stars of the time; Frank Randall, Joseph Locke, Harry Corris who worked with Enoch - do you remember the song?

We three, in happydrome, working for the BBC, Ramsbottom and Enoch and me...........”

In 1948 Andrew was conscripted into the army, where he started acting. He appeared in lots of plays and even wrote a few.
“During my time in the army I was batman to Lieutenant Anthony Smith. He was courting the famous actress Patricia Roc! Through him and his connections I became an extra at Elstree Studios. ” Among the films he appeared in were The Cruel Sea with Jack Hawkins. The Guns of Navarone, and Moby Dick with Gregory Peck! As well as appearing in Moby Dick Andrew helped to build the sets and props.

“We built Captain Ahab’s whale, and in some scenes, Gregory Peck was in a big tank with back projection.” (A film of the sea and the whale played in the background to make it look as though Gregory Peck was out at sea on a ship)

“We had to throw buckets of water on him so it looked like a very rough sea. It was the depths of winter and he must have been freezing, but he didn’t bat an eyelid. When the scene had been filmed, they wrapped him in blankets to warm him up again!”

Mr Shannon told us about his lovely singing voice. “I’m not just saying it, I really did have a great voice! I was a professional entertainer for a time. My stage name was Andy James. I used to sing the ballads of the day in the clubs.” He worked with great stars, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Junior and Judy Garland to name just three, at the Cabaret Club in Manchester. “These were the people I knew. Not bad for a child of the depression!” (See below)

We asked Mr Shannon whether or not he enjoyed retirement.

“I don’t believe you should lie down and die just because you reach the age of seventy. My retirement is fruitful. I like writing and my ambition is to have a best seller. At the moment I’ve got four books to go to the publisher, including Children of the Depression. The first book I had published was a children’s book called The Adventures of Peter McGlobligan. Over the years I have typed up lots of books and stories and have given them away.”

Mr Shannon then delighted our reporters by giving them signed copies of The Adventures of Peter McGlobligan.