Just
a little street where old friends meet
I'd love to wander back some
day,
To you, it may be old and sort
o'tumble down,
But it seems a lot to folks
in my home town.
Although I'm rich or poor I
still feel sure
I'm welcome as flowr's in May
Its just a little street where
old friends meet
and treat you in the same old
way.
Gus Kahn & Harry Woods 1932 |
Part
of an unpublished manuscript of a unique life story related by Nancy Rigby
to her family. The story is filled with songs, humour and humanity.
Her highs and lows through two world wars and the depression, her rollercoaster
career as a dancer and a disastrous marriage.
Any comments? Please email
me on
mandjrat@cwcom.net |
Nancy Rigby born 1913 moved to No 3 Lark Lane as
a small child. Her father, John Henry, ran a very popular taxi and
carriage business there during the few years before WWI. As the war
took a hold his horses were requisitioned by the government for the war
effort and the drivers he employed locally 'took the King's shilling' until
he was left with only 2 big Belgian Greys, his most prized horses.
When the soldiers came to take them away he parted
with them with regret. Soon he received a message from the railway station
that the horses would not get into the carriage and were creating havoc.
They wouldn't move without their master.
The story goes that when John Henry arrived at Lime
Street he decided that if his horses were going to do the King's work,
he was going with them. At over 40 and with a family of 7 children his
business was gone, he had no choice. Although he was too old to fight he
was sent to war and was badly wounded at the Somme. He died later
at 15 Lark Lane.
Desperately short of money, Annie Rigby took her
children to live in the tiny Old Forge Cottages and later at 41 Bickerton
Street. She worked 'over the wall' in one of the big houses on Aigburth
Road as a kosher cook. Although they were poor the Rigbys had immeasurable
riches in their sense of humour and love for each other.
We
strolled the lane, together,
Sang love's refrain, together,
We knew long ago, that our love
would grow,
Through storm and sun, together,
Our hearts as one, together,
You're gone from me; But in
my memory,
We always will be, together.
BG De Sylva, Lew Brown & Ray
Henderson 1928
|
Nancy Rigby loved her life in the Lane and recounted
many tales of the children's exploits in Edwardian Liverpool. She
played the harmonium for her Sunday school in the room upstairs (now Maranto's
Restaurant) and had many an adventure with her friends Duckie Bradshaw
(who had webbed feet) and Popsie Cheshire at Otterspool or Seffie Park.
In adulthood she became a successful dancer and entertainer
playing most of the major theatres in the UK and appeared as one of the
famous Tiller girls at the London Palladium in the Royal Command Performance
of 1931. She lived through two world wars and had a most eventful,
sometimes tragic, life. But she never lost the sense of humour learned
as a child in the streets around Lark Lane.
'Nearer My God to Thee' the
beautiful building where Nan played harmonium for her Sunday School
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