The Left Hand Bench Boys were a group of lads (and three honorary members who were girls), who always sat on the bench in the bay window, on the left hand side as you went in the door (when the door used to be on the corner of the building).

The three girls were Jane Emerton (AKA Emmie), my sister Linda and me, Jan Alstead (AKA Ollie)... we were all football mad so we fitted in so well. Jane was an Arsenal fan, Linda supported Tottenham and I was a Man U fan. Emmie and Ollie were the names Jane and I called each other for years, and even in recent months we've referred to this.

Jane and I were real tomboys, and got stuck into the daft antics of the LHBB really well. When our pub footie team played against other pubs on a Sunday morning everyone would retire to the Deane at lunchtime for jugs of beer and pub games (bottle walking, darts, arm wrestling etc).

The LHBB knew us well. So well in fact that they used to bet against the opposition that Jane could beat any one of their team at arm wrestling, and that I could drink a pint in one. This became a regular event and she and I were only too pleased to prove our skills as this meant we were rewarded with drinks from their winnings!

Happy days.