KBGS Old Boys' Forum
A place to discuss Keighley Boys' Grammar School.
As I get older, I find that it becomes increasingly more difficult to carry out once simple tasks such as wiring a plug or folding a fitted bed sheet. [Was folding a fitted bed sheet ever that easy?] Anyway as fiddled with trying to hang a pair of curtains the other day, I was minded of a saying used by my dad when he saw anyone struggling with something he could do with ease. He would say, 'Gi' that ter me! Tha's framing like a man med o' band!'
This post has had so many responses, I'm not sure whether this particular Yorkshire saying has been logged before. If it has, I apologise.
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1945 - 50
Current location (optional) Norfolk UK
When I was in the RAF many, many, many years ago I was of course Yorkie. But my Yorkshireness came out when I was incredulous about something or offended and I would say "Nay!" and everyone in hearing distance would shout " N-A-A-A-A-A-Y!!!!!". It didn't cure me though. I still do it. Arthur
Around my neck of the woods, Shaun, Blind was also pronounced as your find, as in "It's over(ryme with hover) theer,lad, is ta blind?"
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 55-60
Current location (optional) Harrogate
And "found" pronounced "fun" - as in "Ah fun it under a gooseberry bush".
Arthur, I gave away (ie revealed) my Yorkshireliness t'other week in the local. A fellow imbiber said what he'd paid for a meal somewhere. My jaw sagged as I incredulously gasped "Howw much!?"
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 52-60
Current location (optional) Lincoln
One piece of advice my old feller gave to me was "a tuppenny pie costs fowpence when tha's married,lad"
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 55-60
Current location (optional) Harrogate
Yesterday evening my wife and I took my aunt to a concert by the Steeton Male Voice Choir at Bolton Priory. The church was full and my aunt really enjoyed the concert. As we were driving back to Keighley my aunt said "Ee, ther' wer' part fowk thier wan't ther". I'd forgotten that "part" means "quite a lot of".
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 58-65
Current location (optional) leeds
A fine example of deliberate Yorkshire understatement, similar to "middlin' o' fowk" or "a bit on a crah'd".
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1958-65
Current location (optional) Dudley, West Midlands
or, "I say Brian, your face has turned a shade red."
No, I don't think it has - though by extension of the image my brother-i-law's mother used to say of a skinny lad "He's like a man med o' band tied up wi string" but she was from Leeds.
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1952-60
Current location (optional) Lincoln
'E sounds waar na nowt.
In Keighley, or down our end, "saliva" was "slavver". Hence, bairns that were teething often were seen to be "slavvering".
Slavver was also used to describe unwelcome remarks or cheek. Hence - "I'll have none of your slavver" or "What's he slavvering on about?"
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1952-60
Current location (optional) Lincoln
Much enjoyed reading through this section but can't add much. Has anyone mentioned "think on" meaning "take note" as a general admonition. Or "Nah then" as a greeting.With regard to Scandinavian origins of dialect words I remember my mam who was born in Earby telling me about an old farmer who when asked directions to somewhere said "Gang up 'ither till tha sees a white yat and a track as folks have made" The "gang" and "yat" are obviously the operative words cf, German gehen,gang,gegangen etc and "yat" which I think is Swedish for gate.
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1940-48
Current location (optional) Epsom
Just re-reading this thread and came across a query about 'raffle-coppin'. It is a Craven District dialect word, so from somewhere over Skipton way. To 'raffle' is to spend one's life in idle pursuits; to lead a loose disorderley life and is probably related to ravel, meaning to tangle in a disorderly manner. A raffle-coppin is a disorderly blade, a wild fellow close to ragamuffin. It is easily 'Googled' and one finds other interesting words on the site.
Nice one, Tom. I remember my mother in hysterics when my dad told her of a chance meeting with a colleague.
"I met him down *#*#*# street .
He said 'Nah then!'
I said ' Nah then, then!'
Can't imagine how you reply to that.
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1952-60
Current location (optional) Nirvana
Suited (as in " 'e were reight suited when 'is Grandad giv 'im two bob")
= pleased.
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1958-65
Current location (optional) Leeds
Yon woman 'as a gob like a torn clog (ie talks too much)
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 58-64
Current location (optional) Wirral
Sweets were sometime called 'spice'. As in 'Has ta getten any spice?'
After KGBS I went to agricultural college, and worked on farms around Silsden in the holidays. One instruction before some tractor-driving task was 'Na think on, tha mun nobbut gan reight pratla'. Which being translated, means 'Remember, proceed cautiously and circumspectly'. Or something like that.
Another piece of agricultural economic wisdom was 'Osses are cheap when they're working, and expensive when they're laiking, and tractors is t'other road abaht'.
Someone who was experiencing some of life's vicissitudes was said to be 'Noan in a reight good seam' - this last word being pronounced with two syllables, naturally. My mother and dad hailed from Wakefield and Burnley respectively (what in Silsden were referred to derisively as 'off-cummed 'uns), so this may reflect the local mining industries.
Someone trying to keep the peace amongst warring family members was 'Keeping t'cart ont wheels' or 'keeping t'band int nick'.
And someone thought to be not entirely sane or rational was often described as 'a shakken devil'. We had quite a few of those in Silsden!
Referring to Brian's previous posting, one of the local 'torn clog' women was memorably referred to as 'Joyce the voice'.
Many years ago there was transport cafe alongside the main road in Steeton. (this was told by my dad, so it must be true). A new driver on heating oil deliveries parked up, and was wondering around trying to find the oil tank. He was spotted by the proprietor.
'What's tha after, lad?'
''eating oil'.
'Ower this way'
.. and he took the driver into the cafe (the eating hoil).
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1957 - 62
Current location (optional) Rochdlae
That lass 'as two backs ! (ie she is flat chested)
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 58-64
Current location (optional) Wirral
I still occasionally use "keep band int nick expression" Andrew. My NZ wife does not have a clue what I am on about. I do it on purpose of course, if I am in the mood, just for a bit of fun and she might respond with, "don't you start speaking Yorkshire here, you are in New Zealand now!" Cheers.
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1947-51
Current location (optional) Auckland New Zealand
Never come across the term "Shakken Devil" before. I was more used to hearing such unfortunates referred to as being "a bit short" (such as "elevenpence ha'penny to t'bob") or, in more extreme cases, "three sheets to t'wind" (presumably of nautical origin).
I assume "keepin' t'band i't'nick" to have originated in factories (most likely textile), where, when things went amiss, the belt had a tendency to come off its respective pulley on the overhead drive shaft. Someone out there may have a more confirmed explanation, however.
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1958-65
Current location (optional) Dudley, West Midlands
When anyone seemed to be particularly incompetent my dad's favourite expression was "Nay, 'e's like a man med o' band."
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1958-65
Current location (optional) Leeds
I well remember being the subject of that particular description, Shaun!
Another one was, "Tha'rt up an' dahn like a big silly lass".
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1958-65
Current location (optional) Dudley, West Midlands
I too remember being upbraided, when not jumping immediately to some task, with "Frame thissen - tha's like a man med o' band"
I need to put more thought into my definition of "shakken". This was not aimed at those of reduced mental capacity, but rather people (usually young males) showing wild, irresponsible, and antisocial tendencies, with a predilection for unjustified risk-taking. Speeding motorists and bikers were a frequent target, also those (in those pre-H&S days) adopting dangerous, short-cut working practices. If you've ever seen the 50's film "Hell Drivers" (showing nightly at the Silsden Picture House), you'll know exactly the sort of character I mean.
Their views were frequently dismissed with "Oh 'im? 'E's bloody shakken!"
I've never seen the word in print, although it was in common use at the time. The spelling might well be "shacken". It might be a derivation of "shaken"?
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1957 - 62
Current location (optional) Rochdlae
I guess that band was string, or am I off track?
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1958-65
Current location (optional) Leeds
Hi Shaun, a furtherance of the man made o' band was the addition "tied up wi string."
I well recall the use of the term "shook" to describe a person of questionable sanity or normality.
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1952-60
Current location (optional) Nirvana
Band was definitely string, my mother worked at t'Band Mill in Haworth, Cotton Cords on Sun Street.
My mother- in- law, born and raised in the Worth Valley, was heard to say, on more than one occasion, "I'll be bonny and mad if......." .
The meaning is clear - but what is the origin of the imagery?
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1952-60
Current location (optional) Nirvana
Presumably, at the time, your mother-in-law considered herself neither bonny nor mad, despite your possible misgivings concerning the latter, Terry!
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1958 - 65
Current location (optional) Dudley, West Midlands
Returning to Bernard's post on Jul 28, 2007 - my sense of the word "nark" was of someone who was a persistent irritant (the manager who was never satisfied with the job etc.) rather than simply someone who bemoaned his own lot. Was this how others viewed the term or did they apply it to any moaner?
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1958-65
Current location (optional) Leeds
Not sure about "bemoaned his own lot". Rather just moaned a lot.
Reminds me of a word I've been meaning to ask about: did anyone use the term "nerks" (? "nurks") to mean chips? I've never heard it used anywhere but my own village and even there not for about 50 years.
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 54-59
Current location (optional) United Kingdom
Finurks=Fish and chips
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1959-66
Current location (optional) Haworth
Was surprised a few years ago to be behind an old fella in Greggs, Headingley. He finishes his request with '.....and gie us a couple o' growlers as well' She certainly knew what he meant. Do you ? In fact it prompted me to have one too. Theres nowt like a decent growler.
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 58-64
Current location (optional) Wirral
Growlers? Pork pies of course!'ad tha' nivver 'eard on 'em afore?
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1958 -65
Current location (optional) Embsay Nr. Skipton
Nivver 'ad in mi Keighley days Brian. Jack Hird used to deliver us meat, including them, but ah nivver knew 'em as growlers.
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 58-64
Current location (optional) Wirral
Could it be because they caused an intestinal rumble?
There wer some grand growler (pieces of growler) available in the buffet at the recent (yesterday) kbgs reunion - another success down to Doug Thompson.
Get thissens theer next year - numbers are falling due to Annie Domini and it would be a shame that fewer Keighlians than hitherto fore enjoy the fleshpots so tastefully served up at this annual event.
Get thissens theer!
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1952-60
Current location (optional) Nirvana
There wer some grand growler (pieces of growler) available in the buffet at the recent (yesterday) kbgs reunion - another success down to Doug Thompson.
I wouldn't be brave enough to tell you what a growler is down this part of the world! Pleased to hear that the re-union went off well and look forward to seeing a few pics soon. Cheers.
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1947-51
Current location (optional) Auckland, New Zealand
As far as I'm aware there has only ever been one mention on this site (by Dave Baldwin) of the scrattin' shed at KRLFC. When I was a child it just seemed part of our language. I assumed scrattin' sheds were everywhere (whatever they were).
My father said it was Keighley for "scratching shed". But what did that mean?
Can anyone enlighten me as to the origin of the term, and why it should be used at a RL ground?
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1958-65
Current location (optional) Leeds
There's a scratting shed at Wharfedale RUFC - is this a common name for the basic weather shelter provided for loyal supporters who prefer to provide an afternoon of shrewd advice to the ref in contrast to the more refined comments from the 'stand'?
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1958-65
Current location (optional) Embsay Nr Skipton
I don't know the answer to Shaun's question but I suspect it could be a transfer of usage from agricultural to sporting events - although there was a theatre (flicks) in Batley with a scratting shed.
A cry that came out from Lawkholme's scratting shed was - "come on the steam pigs" - ie a hot scrum on a frosty day
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1952-60
Current location (optional) Nirvana
Others have scratched their heads over your question Shaun:
http://i.rlfans.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=564118
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 54-59
As a lifelong poultry farmer, a "Scrattin" shed would be just that ,a covered ,dry , shed, for the old hens to "Scrat" about in .No doubt Agricultural origin.
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 43-46
Current location (optional) Tasmania
