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Green Peas and Barley

Honour satisfied, we became friends again.

School photo St Columba

School photo St Columba

On St Patrick’s Day, (March 17th ) we, the Catholics from St Columba, would charge down to the Protestant school at the bottom of Crawley Road, Wallsend, with “Basters” made of newspapers rolled into balls, tied with string, and start bashing around, shouting ‘Green Peas or Barley’ at the other children.  We had shamrock pinned on our shirts, so we were easy to find.  Honour satisfied, we then became friends again, as most of us lived in the same area.

This was the early 1920s and was great fun for all us youngsters.

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