My Life Story...by Craig Harper

Where do we start...Well lets start at the beginning. I was born in Bridlington, at the Avenus hospital on April 19th 1973. My mother Ann had a tough time in labour as I was a hefty 9 pounds 2oz. My mother was that long in labour they had to shave her twice. And in the later stages of labour was a bit of a problem. See my mum left her tights on and I was in and out 3 times.

On hearing the news of my imminent arrival my poppa, Bob went out to celebrate, wet the babies head as it were. Good for him. I did the same immediatley after seeing my two children born. Chelsea in 1993 and a little Ashley in 1997. My mother and father had lived in Bridilington all their lives, but soon relocated to Hull 4 months after I was born. I think i must have been so ugly they were ashamed to show me of to the folk that they knew back in Bird. Apparently I was such an ugly baby; I had to be fed with a catapult. We all lived in Somerset Street, just of Hessle Road in Hull. A fantastic community of working class people, most of whom worked at sea in the merchant navy. But not my dad. He was brilliant with his hands, so me mother told me, and plied his trade as an excellent joiner.

Not long after moving to Hull mother became pregnant with my younger brother Mark. We had no telly in our house at that time to keep my mum and dad entertained, so obviously they made there own entertainment. I always remember how windy it was down our street. On some days it would get so windy, that if you left the front door open, and the back door open at the same time, the wind would blow through the house so hard it would blow the lock of the gas meter. To be continued...