Attention Pipe Smokers

[Ivan Kelsall]

The first pipe that i can remember was when i was about 6 years old,1950 - the one belonging to my mother's uncle Alfred. He was an ex.merchant seaman,& then worked for British Waterways,as the lock gate keeper at Vale Royal locks on the River Weaver in my home town of Northwich,Cheshire. His home (see pic.), had a stone flagged floor. He'd sit in an old battered armchair,take his pipe out of his waistcoat along with a plug of thick twist tobacco. He'd cut a few slices off with his pruning knife & knead it until it would go into his pipe. When he lit up,the smoke was a bright Blue. I tried some thick twist at one time. The tobacco was like tarred rope,you'd have thought that it would really bite your tongue - but it was as mild as you could wish for - happy memories !,
Ivan