Allan Colley snr.
My father, along with his twin brother, Colin, were the fourth and fifth children, respectively, born to Sydney and Violet Colley.
He registered for National Service, as you did, but instead of waiting to be called up, he signed up for the Regular Army . Besides, the Regular Army paid double what the conscripts got and you could choose who you served with. So, from 1954 - 1957 he served in the regiment of his choice, the Royal Signals, as a Radio Mechanic , serving abroad in the Middle East.
On Boxing day 1959 he married Jean Charlesworth at the William Temple Church, Sheffield.
26th December 1959
They have four children born between 1960 and 1972, Allan (me), Andrew, Denise and Michael.
In 1959 they took over a sweet shop at 36 Lyons Street in Pitsmoor which was run by my mother, until sometime in 1963 when the 'shop' part of the house was turned back into the living room. Something it hadn't been for eighty years or so.
It was definitely 1963 because, as mum says, she was "up a ladder painting the room ceiling 'orange' when that American bloke got shot". Well that's where she was when Kennedy died then!
In the meantime Dad repaired TV's, working for companies like Wigfalls, British Relay etc.
In 1972, the family moved to Gleadless, where they remain today, minus the kids.
In the aftermath of throwaway TV's that didn't need repairing, Dad changed careers and became Vendoman. The worlds greatest vending machine engineer . How we would sit, riveted to our chairs, listening to his tales of derring-do in the world of drinks and snacks vending.
In 2001 Dad retired from the exciting world of vending and joined Mother in their lifelong ambition of childminding and school runs. With nine grandchildren to cater for , this was an admirable dream.
31st December 2003
