Went to Eddie Cowpe’s birthday party at his place, Huntley’s, and met up with a lady that I’d not seen for over 45 years.

We used to have shops on Bolton Road.

Mine was my first business venture, a dry-cleaners.

We’d bought an empty shop with a flat over for somewhere to live (shops came much cheaper then than empty houses).

I managed to get a Darwen laundry to rent the shop and pay me a wage.

This was before everybody had washing machines so we had a bag wash service.

The clothes were washed but not dried and if not picked up promptly went mouldy, and the smell was something awful.

I have so much admiration for people like Eddie who, when foot and mouth hit farming, had the courage to take a huge leap of faith, change direction and have now given the area a wonderful meeting, eating place and a cracking marketing, party venue.

I know it can’t have been as easy Eddie has you made it look.

Happy Birthday!