John Edward Cooper’s Notes

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The Hallowe’en party

1965, the year that changed my life
Maureen Smith’s question

Monday 1 November 1965
1. The young people at the Full Gospel Church, Fleetwood, used to celebrate Hallowe’en[1] at the church with a party. In 1965, Hallowe’en, 31st October, fell on a Sunday, so (I think) the young people’s event was scheduled for the following evening, to avoid clashing with the main church meetings.[2] There were games, such as apple-bobbing, in the minor hall, the first meeting-room one came into after entering the building, and much merriment. After the games, we all gathered round in the main hall, the lights were dimmed, and Mrs. Smith told us spooky stories.

"The young people used to celebrate Hallowe’en at the church…"

"…and Mrs. Smith would tell us spooky stories."

[1] The celebration of Hallowe’en was later dropped; I think it offended the more “pious” of the young people — the “Hasidim”, I called them. (“Hasidim” is Hebrew for “pious ones”.)
[2] Or perhaps Sunday 31st October was one of the times we went over to support the Knott End campaign; cf. The Knott End campaign begins.

2. I had made up my mind to take steps to try to get Audrey Wood to agree to go out with me. I had summoned the necessary courage to face the possibility of her refusing me.

I had made up my mind…" — photo from 1965

"…to try to get Audrey to go out with me" — photo from 1966

So I hung around her, joined in the apple-bobbing with her — but Peter Gooding hung around her too.

"…but Peter Gooding hung around her too" — photo from 1965

I think it’s likely that the three of us went to the Woods’ house afterwards, Peter thus preventing me from getting alone with her to ask her to go out with me.

3. That night, back at home, I wept much on account of Audrey, and fervently prayed that I might go out with her. I asked the Lord again and again to help me.
I kept saying, “I love that little girl!”; yes, even as I got off the bus, as the tears I had been holding back were now welling up in my eyes, I was saying to myself, “I love that little girl! I love that little girl!”

Thwarted again by Peter Gooding

posted by John Edward Cooper # 2/22/2009 09:20:00 pm

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