Although Pam and me were living miles apart, both Pam's family and mine could see that we were going to see it through and felt that the only thing we could do was get married to be together always.

The Great Day was arranged. My sister Ida had arranged rooms for us in the village. Pam was to come back with me as my wife in the village of Saughall.

We hadn't much money but managed to get furniture to make our rooms comfortable. We paid for it weekly. How I don't know. I was earning £2-1-9 per week. Pam's family was a great help to us.

The wedding day arrived. I was to travel, along with my brother Eric who was best man, on Friday, for the wedding on Saturday at St. George's Church, Sheffield.

I was so happy to think that at last I am going to marry the girl I love. I stayed at Mrs. Lowe's where I used to lodge. I wore a black jacket and striped trousers, which was the dress in those days. I was really nervous.

My brother Eric didn't make things any easier for me. He decided about 45 minutes before the wedding he would have a hair cut at the barbers, causing me to be a little late at the church.

As I stood along with my brother Eric waiting for my Bride to walk up the aisle with her father, he suddenly said he couldn't find the ring. This was a joke on his part but frightened me to death.

It was a beautiful wedding, and my bride looked so lovely, as in my opinion all brides do.

We had the reception in Pam's house in Brookhill. She got some lovely presents from her friends. I don't think I got any.

We were now man and wife and were now together for life. (we were so happy).

The wedding was on Saturday and we had to leave Sheffield on Monday for Saughall. I had to go to work at Connah's Quay.

Pam in a studio photo

My sister had prepared our room at a house in the village where we were to sleep, and live with my mother.

We did not stay long at this place, we got rooms at Long Lane, higher up the village, one up one down and use of the kitchen. I had a cycle and used to go to work on it to Connah's Quay, which was a distance of approximately nine miles.

We had regular visits from Pam's family from Sheffield, especially her brother Joe because she used to do all his clerical work.

The wife's mother loved Saughall and the country. She used to like walking around the fields picking blackberries.

Pam and me were very happy together, but I always felt she missed her family quite a lot (although she never said so). Country life was so different from town.

We still had quite regular visits from Pam's family from Sheffield, mostly Joe and his wife Muriel. They had a car, which was something in those days. They always brought us something. We were not too well off. My wage at this time was £1-19-6 one week and £2-1-9 the other, but we managed. I didn't drink or smoke.

The house we lived in, one up and one down and use of the kitchen, was in Long Lane, Saughall, and was a very lovely part of the village. No street lights and very quiet.

Holly Croft Cottage, long Lane, Saughall, where June was born. Photo shows David McClelland at cottage, November 1998

It was to become a very special house for us because Pam was expecting a happy event.

The baby was to be the first Grandchild in Pam's family, although not in mine, as I have already told you my sister had two children.

As the important day got near, Pam's mother came to stop with us. She was so good to us (a wonderful lady).

I always remember it was a Saturday morning at about 11 am when the District Nurse came for the big occasion.

The baby was not born until Sunday afternoon at 3 pm. Pam's mother was in the bedroom with the Doctor and nurse. I was walking about in a trance. I kept creeping up the stairs from time to time, and then I heard the cry of our baby. I was so happy. I was now a father.

But Pam had a very difficult time. When I went to see her and the baby she looked so lovely and contented. The baby was a girl. We had both wanted a girl.

Pam's mother stayed with us until Pam was well enough to take charge. We had quite a few visitors from Sheffield to see our new baby.

It was about this time that the Railway offered me a Railway house at Connah's Quay so I should be nearer my work. It was nice to think that we were going into our own house.

This Railway house (if you could call it one), I feel I should describe it, because in my opinion it was terrible, and while it was our own, I felt it was not very nice to take your wife and baby to. Pam accepted it without a complaint.

This house was at the side of the railway line (main Chester Holyhead line), it was all on it's own. The back opened into derelict land down to the River Dee.

It consisted of one large living room. It took twenty-five rolls of paper, this will give you some idea of its size. A pokey kitchen, paraffin lamps, and the water tap was outside. It was the only house on this side of the railway. Each time we wanted to take our baby and pram out we had to go over a level crossing and get the gate keeper to open it for us, which he didn't seem to like much.

I think I should tell you here that our lovely little daughter was christened at the village church at Saughall where I had lived most of my young life. She was named June Margaret Rose. We were so proud of her.

I still felt it was not fair for Pam and our baby to live in such a house and she had quite regular visits back to her family at Sheffield for quite long periods. I did not object to this. What else could I do.

Stan and Pansy in their later years. Date and location unknown.

I think we lived in this house about ten months when a very fortunate thing happened for us both. I found out that there was a railwayman and his wife in Sheffield who were from Connah's Quay and they wanted to get back again to this district.

I contacted this gentleman, a Mr. Evans, and an exchange was arranged with the railway about our jobs, and the landlord regarding our house,

This exchange turned out very well indeed. He lived at 70 Beechwood Road, Hillsborough, Sheffield.

I know Pam was very happy about this, so was I for her sake, although I was leaving my mother and family again.

Pam's family was also very pleased especially her brother Joe regarding her clerical work.

I remember quite well the day of the removal. Pam and baby June went by car with Joe and Muriel. I went in the furniture van. What a journey. It was winter and I was frozen, sat on the furniture in the back of the van.

We now made our home at 70 Beechwood Road, and I again worked on the railway at Sheffield, a Goods Porter at Bridgehouses. My wage was poor, but I did get it every week.

This is where I first became really involved in Trade Unions. The Goods Depot at Bridgehouses was a very large place and employed a large staff. Porters, checkers, crane drivers, lorry drivers, etc. I was soon approached to be asked if I was a member of the union. I joined and have been a member ever since. I will tell you more about unions later.

Pam and me were very happy in our little house at Beechwood Road.

Baby June was growing up into a lovely child.

We were still rather poor, but the wife's family helped us a lot.

Stanley Rowe Mercer

When I began this exercise to transcribe Stan's pencil notes, little did I know that it would take me a whole year to complete. I fitted this project in among the many other things that occupied my time, but I knew I had to finish it; to complete the work Stan had started.

Now, even though the job is complete and all Stan's words have been printed, I still look upon this as a work in progress. Stan died before he could commit all his words to paper, but he led a full and interesting life right up to the accident that claimed his life.

It is my intention to continue where he left off, to fill in the blanks between those happy days at 70 Beechwood Road and his death.

I realise this will not be an easy task. It will no doubt be a number of years before Volume 2 of "Memoirs of a Railwayman" is published. I hope to include photographs of family members and places Stan talked about. It will take a lot of time and research, but one day it will be completed.

In the meantime, I leave you with this, Volume 1, as a tribute to Stanley Rowe Mercer. He may not, as he mentions in his preface, have been a hero, or achieved any outstanding success, but the writing he left is a moving record of one man's life, and as such, is a precious piece of my family history.

My thanks to the following people whose help and support made this work possible: Pansy (Pam) Mercer; June McClelland (née Mercer); my father, David McClelland Senior and my brother, John McClelland.

Update April 26, 1997. Since putting these memoirs on the internet, I've had many people ask me what became of Stan and Pansy. Eventually, I hope, I'll complete Stan's history.

In the meantime, I have created a page to update Stan and Pansy's life. You will find it here.... Stanley and Pansy Mercer - The story continues

MEMOIRS OF A RAILWAYMAN by STANLEY ROWE MERCER, edited by DAVID McCLELLAND. Copyright © 1996-2006 by David McClelland. All rights reserved. No part of Memoirs of a Railwayman may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsover without prior written permission. For information contact Dave@McClellandMedia.com

My thanks to Cameron Bales, Hank Stinson and Rose Santanasamy for assistance with scanned images.

Created December 8, 1996. Last update Feb 25, 2006