In Memory Of

Here is another recycled postcard, originally used in 1999 as a promo for inmemoryof.co.uk.

Sam Bright

Sam Bright was what you would call a real character. He never missed a chance to tell a story or crack a joke. A soldier, a coal miner, a chef at Blackpool Casino, a fish and chip shop owner, a shopkeeper, a pallbearer—these were just a few of his careers.

During the First World War he served as a cook, responsible for the well-being of his comrades. The meagre rations supplied by the army often needed supplementing by scavenging. He went on “raiding parties”, sneaking into French farms and pilfering what he could. Once he found himself in a Frenchman’s dovecote—almost his final mission. The farmer gave chase and levelled a loaded rifle at him. Sam wasn’t proud of his thieving, but as he explained, it was war and his mates were hungry.

One of his most poignant tales was about a march to the front. In a hedgerow Sam spotted a ham bone with a little meat still on it. When they reached the front line, conditions were appalling and rations were low, just as the history books tell us. Sam remembered the ham bone and on the way back from the front he looked for the bone but it had gone - obviously he was beaten to it by another cook from another regiment.

Trench warfare cost him many friends and the sight in one eye. He spotted a German sniper—who unfortunately spotted him a split second before he did. Wounded, he was told by his commanding officer to remain at his post to give his comrades a better chance to fall back, with a promise that his family would receive a medal for his sacrifice. Whatever he replied - I'm sure it wasn't polite because he came home. He was invalided out of service and treated at Guy’s Hospital in London, where they patched him up. Apparently, a damaged nerve in his eye was replaced by one from a rabbit.

Mary Jane Bright

When Mary was in her teens she was apprenticed to a chemist in Sheffield, travelling by train every day from her home.

She was the woman behind the scenes in their grocer’s shop, where they were famous for their homemade ice lollies. People still remember their delicious lollies, made from Tizer and other bottles of pop.

Mary was a Spiritualist by conviction, with local businessmen and tradesmen alike knocking on her door for advice and guidance. Her “messages” influenced deals and life changes. The respect she commanded was far greater than her diminutive size.