I found this true story a long
time ago and copied it into a notebook.
I'm sorry to say that I didn't copy the source.
In 1989 I took my son to
Oakdale, Newport, to locate the address my father-in-law Arthur Purnell lived
at before the family emigrated to NZ. I
couldn't find the Street, so called into a local shop which was also a tea-room.
Here's how it went:
Enter stage right a rather hot
looking stranger with an 8 year old boy in tow.
Everyone stops talking and then
silence.
Stranger (me) goes to counter,
buys child a drink and says in her
Manchester/Kiwi accent. (I originate from Manchester but have lived most of my
life in NZ):
Can you tell me where New
Houses are?
"Oh, no, Luvvy" is
the reply,
"Jones the union will
Know" came a call from the behind me.
(I looked around at all the
interested faces of the other folk in the tea-room).
"No" said another lady
flatly, "Jones the union won't know".
A brief discussion was held by
those present.
"Yes" decided a man,
"Jones the union will know".
"No” insisted the first
lady "Jones the union won't know".
More quiet discussions, finally the consensus was "Jones the union would know".
Adamantly the first lady
persisted he wouldn't, finally from the
shop proprietor came the question that was on my tongue, "Why won't Jones the Union know".
"Because he has been dead
two years", replied the insistent
lady.
Well I didn't find out any more
about my Purnells, but with the logic involved I left the shop with a warm feeling in knowing
my father in law definitely came from these parts.
