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Meeting challenge from life of silence

Alice McKeegan
17/11/2007

LIFE in the 1920s and 1930s was challenging for many families in Rochdale, but for the Collier family, times were even tougher than for most.

When Edmund Collier and Clara Ethel Lord, a Rochdale-born and bred couple fell in love, it seemed like the perfect fairy tale.

The pair, who were profoundly deaf, had already experienced difficulties in their short lives, but, against all the odds, they had overcome their problems and embarked on married bliss.

The couple had two children, Rose Mary and John, but tragedy struck the family when the youngsters contracted diptheria.

Sadly, their daughter did not recover and died aged six.

However, looking back, John recalls many happy memories from his childhood.

The retired engineer, who was born in 1925, said: “I was taught sign language and I assume I was taught to speak through relatives.

“My schooling up to 14 years of age was at elementary level which I found to be difficult in certain subjects such as maths and English because my parents’ education was very limited and, consequently, they could not help.

“Life was difficult at times but I didn’t know anything different and they did the best that could.

“They were very good parents.”

Their disabilities posed a particular problem during the frequent air raids throughout the Second World War. Owing to their limited hearing, they were unable to hear the sirens at night time and, subsequently, were placed in danger.

John, of Mountside Close, Shawclough, added: “During the war years I found it very difficult to impress the dangers on them. My father could not hear the bombs and even refused to get up to go to the cellar for protection.”

In 1946, John married his sweetheart Joan and was forced to explain his background before introducing her to his parents.

He added: “When I started courting Joan I explained the situation at home and started to teach her basic sign language. On her first invite to Sunday tea she adapted very well.”

They married at Balderstone Church on 10 August 1946 and had an extra minister to translate the service to the large numbers of deaf guests who were invited.

His parents continued to live an active life and were popular members of the Deaf and Dumb Institute, Church Lane.

Edmund even held down a full-time job at Pioneer’s Equitable Stores, Lord Street, until his retirement.

Sadly, he died aged 65, shortly after his first granddaughter Christine was born in May 1952 and Clara Ethel passed away in 1966, aged 73.

John looks back fondly at his childhood and life with his beloved wife Joan. The couple celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary last August but, in May, she died after a short illness.

He said: “We had 61 happy years together.

“I feel very honoured to have spent so much time with her and I am very fortunate for that.”