Chapter 2

The Good Times or Were They?

The early 50s were a great time in our house, all of my elder Siblings had left school, which meant there were four extra incomes entering into the fold, giving us all a slightly better life than in previous years since the end of the second world war. Not only were we living to a better standard regarding our clothing and food, we’d also become a bit posh, and had installed at Dawson’s if you please, our own black ‘n’ white telly, so in actual fact in the last couple of years in our home we had electricity installed, replacing the old gaslight, and now a television, so as one can see, times were on the upsurge for the better in the Carter household. I can remember it well, it was a brand new “PYE” TV, and the cabinet those days were huge, because in those days they were made as a bit of furniture, even though the actual screen was only 9”, so you can well imagine this large lump in our little front room, it was a sight to behold. Apart from my uncle Dennis at No5 across the road from us, we were the only ones for miles to have a telly, during the day our house had more kids in it than the local Dr Bernardo’s.

At that time we would watch Muffin the Mule, Mr Turnip, these two come to mind first, as I remember these little puppets would dance about the stage, with their host Annette Mill, I believe to be the late actor sir John Mills sister, who used to sing along, “as in, we want Muffin” I suppose she did, “Muffin the Mule” as the puppets dangled on what looked like tow ropes from the top of the screen. Unlike the puppetry of today as in spitting image, and the Muppets, they have most definitely come along way since the days I am talking of. Then there was “Senior Hank”, He was a cowboy hand puppet with a large brimmed cowboy hat, he also sported a big drooping moustache. My brother Dennis was to acquire this nickname, and was used by most people those days and there are still a few people who refer to him as Hank, even to this very day. Other characters alongside ”Hank”, were the baddies, “Mexican Pete, the bandit”, “Big Chief Dirty Face”, and not forgetting hanks trusty steed “Silver King, with his big goofy teeth”. Then there was “Bengo the Boxer puppy” This was done by drawing illustrations on a huge drawing book on an easel, whilst talking you through the little dog adventures, by an Australian fellah.

Our first soaps I guess, was the “Grove Fami