A trip to the Pantomime

One of the most exciting things I can remember about Christmas as a child was going to the pantomime. It wasn’t the Hull pantomime though, I went to the one in Leeds and it was a whole day event, and the whole day was good.

First we had to get there, by train. Steam trains were still in use and they could go fast, so the journey to Leeds didn’t seem to take long. I liked walking around the train, exploring the corridors and compartments. Once my cousin got into trouble for climbing up into the luggage rack (above the seats) and laying down in it!!

When we got to Leeds, as soon as you left the station, there was the next exciting event! Leeds still had trams instead of the trolley buses that Hull had. The trams clanged and clattered their way, past grimy, sooty buildings, under a railway viaduct, until we reached a cinema, near to where my Auntie lived. There was a zebra crossing outside my Auntie’s shop, and lots of people all about. In my memory it seems like a painting by L.S. Lowry.

The shop was at the corner of a street, and all the houses were very close together. My Uncle told me that the houses didn’t have a toilet inside, and the whole street shared one! My Auntie and Uncle lived at the back of their sweet shop and the room behind was cosy. It always had a fire in the range, and a door I was not allowed to go through. This led down to the cellar where the coal was kept – it was very dirty down there. My cousin used to sneak down when no one was looking just to impress me. I wasn’t always a good little girl, but my cousin was always naughtier than me and for one day, I could relax. Upstairs there was an attic and in the attic was the toilet – a long wooden bench with a hole in it. I was fascinated! It did have a flush, but it was very old.

The theatre we went to was very old too. Old-fashioned music halls used to take place there in the olden days. One year, we had seats behind a pillar and I couldn’t see very well, but I was able to hide behind it when the villain came on! Another year, my Auntie had booked a box – for just our family. It was easy to see what went on down on the stage - at one side! You could see into the wings where people were getting ready to come on stage, but not what was happening at our side of the stage!

We had to go straight to the station after the pantomime to come back to Hull. Just before she kissed me goodbye, my Auntie used to give me lots of sweets to take home, a box of Smarties, chocolate and toffee bars, and sweets. They lasted me for ages.

Nowadays, Leeds has had the old buildings cleaned, and new ones have been built. The trams are no longer there, but the station is – without the steam trains. I think the theatre is still there, but the street s near the viaduct and my auntie’s shop have been knocked down to build a clothing factory. The zebra crossing is still there, though, to remind me of where it all happened.