Uncle Fred’s Telly

My dad was no 10 of 11 children and Uncle Fred was his youngest brother…the last child to be born. My dad was only two when his own dad died so my Grandma Brown was left with all those children to bring up. I don’t know anything about their childhood but I remember Uncle Fred coming into our lives after Dad left the army and they both ended up living in Peterlee

We did not have a TV as we couldn’t afford one. Uncle Fred did have a TV and it was a big event to be invited to go around for a cup of tea and to watch “This Is Your Life” my mum’s favourite programme and “Bonanza”…Michael Landon as “Little Joe” was one of my first crushes.

Then Uncle Fred got a new TV…and he offered mum and dad the old one…such excitement. We got the watch “Bill and Ben”….”Dixon of Dock Green” etc. Mums favourite was “Andy Stewart” bringing in the new year.

The aerial was a plastic circle thing that was plugged into the back and wriggled around….and I also seem to remember a wire coathanger.

When Uncle Fred’s telly broke down we knew we couldn’t live without one so Dad rented one….from Radio Rentals. The beginning of me being a telly addict. “Top of the Pops ” on a Thursday…I could join in the chatter at school about who was no1.

How times have changed. Would we go back to those days…Don’t know