Chap. 4.] LOCAL CELEBRITIES. 



Ill 



drunkards in the district, and many tales of bis wonderful drinkincr 

 feats are cuirent to this date. His fall from sobriety was due to the 

 drinking customs then and still prevalent (though in a less degi-ee) 

 at funerals. And as he himself once pathetically remarked, " It is not 

 my young life, nor my old life, but my middle life that I have to 

 regret." For, in 1863, he became quite a reformed character, and ever 

 after was one of the most enthusiastic teetotal advocates in Lancashire, 

 making in his speeches effective use of his own experiences as a 

 drinker. In some things he was rather eccentric, and of late years, 

 being very deaf, and slightly absent-minded, provoked some amuse- 

 ment in Chm-cli. But he was a good man, and much respected 

 by all who knew him. He died at the ripe old age of 76, having 

 thus acted as Clerk and Sexton for over 41 years. Diu'ing his 

 term of office he assisted at and in most cases dug the graves for 1 755 

 funerals. He was very faithful in the discharge of his duties. He 

 was also Bellman, being presented with a new bell by the inhabitants 

 on his apijointment in 1848. 



A good story of the late Wm. Prestwich is worth relating. One 

 day a lady and gentleman went to look at the Chm-ch, and were just 

 going into the belfry when they discovered the venerable Clerk, attired 

 in a strange and wonderful manner, violently beckoning them not to 

 approach. Disregarding his gesticulations, the visitors drew near 

 and found the clerk busy dusting the belfry. In order to save his 

 clothes, he had put on the Vicar's surplice and fastened some clean 

 towels round his legs, with a skull cap on his head. He naturally 

 looked very comical. After enjoying a good laugh the amused visitors 

 retired, leaving the careful sexton to disrobe at his leisure. 



Henry Hoole. 

 Mr. Henry Hoole, who was schoolmaster of the National School 

 before Gregory, was, when the author wrote this sketch, lookino- 

 remarkably well. I am much indebted to Mr. Hoole for the rem- 

 iniscences he has given me of Lougridge life. I am told that Henry 

 Hoole was a good schoolmaster, and much Hked by the "aristocracy" of 

 Longi-idge, which comprised at that time such men as George Whittle 

 Dr. Eccles, Wm. Marsden, Shuttleworth, Mr. Tobin, T. Fleming, 

 Fletcher, Spencer, &c. 



