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Cowling People

This section of our website is about some of the many local people of Cowling who have a wealth of historical information to share with us. These people have kindly contributed to this website in many ways with recorded memories of their lives in the village both in voice and picture.
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David Hoyle
Born 19th June 1925

David has lived virtually his entire life in the village of Cowling. His parents before him were residents of the village and worked in the local textile factories.
Time served as a joiner, now retired just over the border in Lancashire, David served in HM Navy during World War II.
His passions are art, and local history and he was one of the main contributors to the publication of the book 'Cowling - A Moorland Parish'

David has contributed a lot of photos, documents and voice recorded memories to Moonrakers from his vast local history collection.

He continues to be an inspiration to all local historians of the village for his wisdom of local knowledge and enthusiasm for the preserving of the past of our local village.

On the 4th January 2005, David began a session of voice recordings with Moonrakers to capture further history of the village, excerpts of these recordings can be heard below. The full dialogues are available by contacting Moonrakers through our contact pages.

To hear the files below:
1. Right click on the link & select
    'Save Target/Link as...'
2. Click 'Save'
3. When download is complete, select 'Open'
    to play file

D.Hoyle recording excerpt 1
Format - mp3
Size - 705Kb

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Joan Margaret Tindale (nee Binns)

Joan has both an extensive personal knowledge as well as a long, recorded history of ancestors from the village dating back to the 1600's.
Her relatives built Carr Mill in Cowling in 1893, and her own grandparents were one of the many people of Cowling who would dig and store Peat from the local moorlands for burning in the winter.

Joan's links with the community have been very strong and committed, in her past working actively as Parish Clerk for the Council and both secretary and teacher of the Methodist Church.

Four generations of her family still live in the village to this day, and she lives happily with husband Robin on the very site where once stood the 'Bar Chapel' of Cowling.
Her contributions to Moonrakers & the website have been invaluable, and some of her memories of the village and her life were recorded on 28th January 2005, excerpts of which will be available below.

To hear the files below:
1. Right click on the link & select
    'Save Target/Link as...'
2. Click 'Save'
3. When download is complete, select 'Open'
    to play file

J.Tindale recording excerpt 1
Format - wma
Size - 512Kb

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Alice Smith (nee Whittaker)
Born 10th October 1920, Nan Scar, Cowling

Youngest daughter of George Whittaker & Mary Wilson. Two older sisters Mamy & Florence.
Alice since being a small child has always been associated with the many Cowling religious choirs. At the age of 13 she joined Ickornshaw Methodist Choir. In 1942 she trained as a conductress and began conducting the Women's Institute Choir shortly thereafter, followed with many other local choirs.

Alice was given an award by Cowling Hill Baptist Chapel for 50 years devoted service as choir mistress, during their 250th year celebrations &  awarded a 50year service with Ickornshaw Methodist Choir, the last 38years as conductress. On 29th January 2005 Alice kindly gave Moonrakers a 40minute recording of her memories associated with the choirs since childhood.
You can view a full listing of her choir mistress diary and the Oratorios performed by Ickornshaw Methodist Choir, conducted by Alice by clicking here.

To hear the files below:
1. Right click on the link & select
    'Save Target/Link as...'
2. Click 'Save'
3. When download is complete, select 'Open'
    to play file

A.Smith recording excerpt 1
Format - wma
Size - 867Kb