Oldham Stories illustrated book comes home

An 89-year-old author and artist who grew up in Oldham has written a book of short stories based on memories of the 1930-40s living between the cotton mills.

In the book, 'Oldham Stories', there are many illustrations by the author, Marjorie Graham, and her brother Peter Carey.

The stories are both funny and moving: from the benefits of singing in an outside toilet, or a diplomatic incident in a chip shop, to the sad fates of those who were ‘different’, such as the accordion player who painted his house-front red and yellow.

The 'Black Angel' story paints a vivid image of the bitter winter of 1947, when trying to light a fire with a handful of damp coke reduced the author’s mother to tears for the first time in the duration of the war.

But a mysterious gift of coal brought generations together around the range.

Marjorie said: “It’s difficult to imagine now, just how wonderful it was to be warm for the first time in weeks.”

The story 'Tea with Mr. Lowry', where the artist visits the family terraced house in Crompton Street, happens to coincide with Gallery Oldham’s current hosting of Lowry’s painting 'Going to the Match'.

Marjorie added: “The stories feature my mother Edith, my father Leonard, and my brother Peter.

"Aunties and grandparents also lived on the same terraced street.

"Crompton Street rose sharply from the road to Rochdale, and at the foot of the street Mrs Taylor kept a small grocery shop. … I hope that these stories make you smile.”

A preview, and copies of the book are available as hardback ‘print on demand’ from the link here

Marjorie Graham was born in 1934 in Manchester.

She gained a two-year scholarship at Oldham School of Art.

After working in a hat shop, she did teacher training at Padgate College, Warrington, specialising in graphic art and textiles.

She was later awarded a grant to study dance for one year at the Laban Studio in Surrey.

For many years she taught textile skills, dance and drama, in schools, at Backworth Drama Centre, and Wallsend Art Centre.

She then worked as a multi-cultural arts worker, in Newcastle and High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, making large embroideries and quilts with community groups, which were exhibited widely.

Peter Carey (aka Peter Leonard Carey) was born in 1931, is primarily a painter but also works in relief and sculpture as well as drawing, watercolour and pastel.

Born in Oldham, he has lived, worked and exhibited in London, Italy, France and Worcester.

He studied at Oldham School of Art, and has worked on community murals, art teaching, and has been a visual arts director including at Oldham Art Gallery and Camden Art Centre.

“Several themes are important to me," he recalled.

"The steep cobbled streets of my youth; the shocking suffering of homeless and migrant people; the joy of people dancing together.”

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