"An Experience of a Coffin-maker's Boy" - as recalled by Witty Whitlock for George in the 1960s

When I got home from school, Mother said, "Father's got a job for you". "What's that then?" "It's to take a little coffin up to the Stone Works". So I went down to see Father, in his workshop, and he said, "It will be ready in half an hour" - he brought the coffin up ready for the house and I started up the Stoke Road with it under my arm. I had got to call on Granny Davis who was the village 'layer out' - "She'll take you there and put you right". Granny Davis took me upstairs at the Stoneworks and said "Wait there, I'll be back in a minute". She came back with some whisky and a couple of glasses. After we had had some whisky she said she knew where the infant was. I handed her the coffin and she 'put everything alright'. "Tell your father that everything is alright". I said, "Alright". So then she said that we better have a little drop more whisky before you go. So I had another drop. She said she was going to stop there a little while and I set off back by the football field where there was a deep ditch. And I fell headlong into it. When I got home, Mother said "Are you well? Have you been having any drink?" "Yes" "Ooh!! well you better go to bed then" I never woke till she called me at half past seven next day. "You getting up?" "Yes" - and I happily went to school, in Courteenhall, as usual. I landed home at night and told Mother that I was alright and that was the end of a perfect day.