Fran Randle, Bill Shankly, Violet Carson, Les Dawson, Gracie Fields, as well as tacklers, overlookers, weavers and other mill workers, were interviewed for this gem of a book. A tackler comes to Oldham, in the pouring rain, and knocks on a door. Landlady opens the door and says, Yes?' Can I stay here for t'week?' Aye, ' says the landlady, you can, but you'll get dam'd wet ' This is a classic example of a tackler's tale a story of gormlessness, delivered with a straight face. All of old Lancashire is covered, including Manchester and Liverpool, and former Daily Express columnist Geoffrey Mather reveals a great talent for amusing observation and wry comment. The result is an un-put-downable, rib-tickling collection of stories, recollections and commentary by the author on what it means to be a Lancastrian, then and now.