DANGER!
I was born in Naylor Street, Miles Platting in 1948. When I was five years old one of my mates drowned in the Rochdale canal.

We had been playing together and went home for tea. He said he would call for me after tea but he didn’t, so I called for him. His dad said, “He’s gone to your house.” I went to an older boy, Barry and we went to the park to see if Billy was there, he wasn’t, so we came back.

I went to the canal and I saw him in the water.

I ran to his house to tell his dad. When his dad got to the canal he jumped in and pulled Billy out. He tried to revive him but he was dead. One of the neighbours phoned for an ambulance and the police. When they both arrived the policeman asked who found the body. I said “I found Billy” and the police asked more questions but I was very shocked so they came back the next day to question me. I still think of that day now and that was 47 years ago.

John Whittaker