It was with much joy that I looked at the photos of the old coach road
on the Yampy site, as I have very good memories of my childhood.
When I was very young my Grandad, Ernie Witton, used to walk me from his home in Kennedy Crescent, off Stickley Lane
along the coach road to the stile where a beautiful view of Cotwall End nature reserve can be seen.
We would stand here and just look out across the meadow and watch the animals.
My Grandad would always cut a stick on the way that I would use just like he did. On returning home these sticks
were often stripped of bark and then stained. On several occasions he cast brass Staffordshire Bull terrier heads
for them. I still have one at my mother's house and will always treasure it.
We would walk after our rest down the coach road to the pools, here we would play pirates or on the numerous tree swings.
I even remember convincing my Grandad that there were fish in there and he made me a fishing line from a pole,
string and a brass safety pin, however, I could never bring myself to put a worm on it!
One very vivid recollection I have of the pools is the day my Grandad made my brother Duncan and I wooden boats with cloth
sails - he is a fantastic craftsman still! These boats were set to sail on warm late summer afternoon, however, mine sank.
My grandad, tried to no avail to rescue mine and I was very upset. After a while a gang of teenage lads walked past and
saw my obvious distress. One of them actually waded into the water to rescue my boat!
We would play pooh sticks in the sugar well and I would crawl into the cave like structure along the side of the school
fence and the Thornleigh houses, I don't actually know what it was! (nb.
click here for details about the caves)
We would also pick bluebells in the spring and collect conkers in the autumn - here is where my respect and admiration
for nature was nurtured.
From the pools we would always walk along the side of Ellowes Hall School. At the time (possibly 1978-80) there were
goats kept at the school and we would always stop to feed and pet them. Then one day we read in the paper that the
goats had been killed by fighting dogs - the end of an era really.
Today I am almost 30 and frequently walk the route my Grandad walked with me with my to young children, Aidan, three and
a half years old, and Iona, aged two. On dry days we include the path on our way from St Chads Pre-School and still
share the view of Cotwall end (along with sweeties). I re-tell the stories of my childhood, the Grey Lady,
The Story of the Wrekin Giant (the Wrekin is just visible from higher ground) and wonderful made up songs
and poems relating to the area. My children prefer a walk down the coach road to a day at the Wacky Warehouse,
and I hope their children will too!
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