1950 – When Grandpa got home from work at the Tannery we used to have tea and then we would all go into the Parlour with the gas fire on and sit and watch the black and white television picture. Early on in the evening it would be Annette Mills with Muffin the Mule and other kids shows.

Grandpa Legget always smoked a cigarette, I never remember him without a cigarette in his mouth. Normally when the cigarette burnt to his mouth, the drip on his nose would put out the burning embers, and he would crush it up and light another one,

This night we were all sitting in the Parlour as usual, Granny, Grandpa and Robert and I, all glued to the tele. Grandpa was in his working suit, stripped cotton shirt, collar held on on by studs and a tartan tie. He must have had a busy day because he had suddenly fallen asleep.

Suddenly Robert turned and said to Granny, “Granny, Grandpa’s on fire!”, smoke was pouring out from his tie, his nose had not dripped, and the lit end of the cigarette had fallen onto his tie. Grandpa had no sense of smell, due to lead going up his nose when he was younger, and he did not waken up.

Granny shot out of her chair, grabbed the dish of water which lay beside the gas fire and threw it over Grandpa, beating his chest to put out the fire, which had burnt his tie and shirt. Robert and I thought this was far better than watching the black and white television picture.

Grandpa was not hurt and he got a new shirt and tie the next day.