www.skinningrove.tv

For quite some time now I have enjoyed listening to my dad George Willis telling me stories of how life in the village used to be and at times he has had me in stitches with the antics that used to go on. He had some writings of history of the village at one point which I found fascinating but he unfortunately no longer has them.

Dad was in the miner's band and he was delighted to his father's name in the village news,  my grandad was Jammy Willis, after losing a leg and the loss of one eye in an accident down in the pit he became caretaker of the Tute and the band was his life, I can still remember my mam cleaning the instuments.

I remember one village character very well because Wendy and myself used to get up to allsorts of tricks like we once cut his hair off,but he used to wind my grandad up especially over the band, I mean Jimmy Bushby he played the drums in the band.

When I listen to my dad and his stories it fills me with pride to know I come from a villagethat was once so close and caring and with more thaen it's share of wonderful characters.

I go round dads every day and listen as I try to remember what he told me so I can write it down, and because of this I would love to do do some sort of album for my dad and myself.

Hence the reason for this letter I have no photographs of the village as it used to be and I was wondering if anyone could loan me any to copy with the assurances that great care will be taken.

Thank you in anticipation,

Lynn Willis.