OLD NED OF STANLEY

OLD NED OF STANLEY

(Ilkeston Pioneer 23rd Apr 1954 p3)

82 - STILL WORKING

   " Old Ned " as he is affectionately called by his many friends and associates in Stanley, was born 82 years ago at one of the small cottages in Station Road, within a stone's throw of the White Hart Inn, where on occasions he can be seen sitting in his usual corner enjoying his pint of beer.

   Visitors cannot help being impressed by the strength of character displayed upon his weather-beaten features, while his droll quotations and participation in jest and chaff, a feature of village life, endear him to all.

   A member of a family that parish registers disclose have resided in the parish for over two centuries, Mr Stevens became a confirmed bachelor at an early age. He has been a farm worker all his life.

   And this son of the soil is still doing a bit at the farm where he has been employed for the past 14 years.

   Starting work at the age of 11, Ned Stevens was hired at the Statutes which were held at Ilkeston, on the last Thursday in October, by the late Mr W Hunt of Morley, at a weekly wage of 1s 6d, during a trial period of three months, followed by a resultant agreemant of £5 a year.

   Early rising was one of the features of his job, and he retains vivid recollections of rising regularly at 4.30 am, and during one harvest time, when rain was imminent, wheat leading was in progress all through Saturday night.

   Among his many memories, he recollects the construction of the railway through Stanley and of witnessing cock-fighting on what is now the car park outside the Bridge Inn.

   

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