I LIVED in West Cornforth for 34 years. Was there a better place to live? I doubt it.

As a colliery village I think it stood out from other surrounding villages because of the camaraderie and the friendliness.

Neighbours in the street where I lived gave assistance and support if anyone was ill. That’s something that we do not find today in villages because once we lost the coal mines the togetherness was made redundant.

I still remember many characters who lived in the village.

Sadly many are not with us today. Men like Panky Lowther, Colin Rodgers, Joe Mitten and many more that are to numerous to mention.

Panky would often raffle a cock chicken in the public house on a Friday night. Panky was unemployed so he had to find his beer money from some other means Happy days.

Jimmy Taylor, Coxhoe.