Bob A Job Week 1964

Bob A Job Week 1964 

By Paul McCann 

There  was once a time of innocence in the world when children were safe to go around on their own without adult supervision . As children we had nothing to fear from anyone .  Belfast was a beautiful place and as  children we could travel on our own on the bus or train unhindered.

I joined St Patrick’s Scouts in 1964 and every Thursday I took the 89 bus with Tom Liddy , who lived next door,  down to Lower Donegal Street for our regular weekly meeting upstairs in St John Bosco’s boxing club behind St Patrick’s church . Before becoming a scout we had to start as cubs . Part of our induction before we became scouts .

There was a special time every April when as a young  cub we were called to go out on our own with a little job card knocking the doors of houses in the community as part of Bob A Job week  , when cubs and scouts had to go out on their own seeking work from people in the  community .

It was a fundraising event and another way of connecting scouts with the people in the district  .

I have so many wonderful memories of the tasks I was given by the people around my village  during Bob-A-Job week . Mrs McAfee who lived opposite us in Duneden Park asked me to run up to the end of the street and back for a shilling and she signed my job card with a comment , excellent work .Joe Soap who lived beside the Killens in number 58 asked if I could wash his car for a shilling , which was a bit difficult because he  never had a car . He also signed my job card with a comment , great work .

Mr McAteer next door in 56 asked me to feed his 2 cocker spaniels and paid me a shilling for each dog . 

Mrs Louise Doherty opposite always got me to cut her front grass with a pair of hedge shears . After I started the job , it seemed like no time at all before  she would call me inside for something to eat . She always had a boiled egg and some toast . There would be a cup of tea and then she had the money for cutting the grass on a little saucer .

Opposite her house were  the McAteers who asked me to sing a song , so I sung Molly Malone for a shilling . 

So as you see how kind the people were in my village of North Belfast .

Further up the road in the big houses down Twaddle Avenue some old folk asked 

“Can you clean windows ?”

I’d say yes and then they said .

“Well come back next year and give them a wash “

Someone else would ask me to shake their door  mat or tell them a joke . Another old lady asked me to read a page from a book .

They would all gladly hand me a shilling and sign my job card .A lot of the people were happy to do you a favour .  I was always amazed at how friendly people were and have never forgotten their kindness .

The End 

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