from the 1928 Stalybridge Handbook James Moulton Parry, of Victoria Road, Newton Wood, who died May 23rd, 1926, at the age of 44, was a well-known writer, and was born in Newton Wood. He was versatile in his writing. He wrote:-
"Oh, take me where the heather blooms,
Beneath the smiling sky,
For when the breath of summer comes
I feel I cannot die;
My soul is yearning for the hills
And far-off meadows green,
And such a longing through me thrills
To tread those paths again."
I much prefer his 'Owd fashion't Lankysher Song":-
"Mid th' turmoil an' strife o' mi wark-a-day life,
Aw oft-time feel deawncast an' sad;
When th' sky's noan so clear, an' when poverty's near,
It's a difficult task for 't' be glad.
But ther's one thing aw know, 'mid keen sorrow an' woe,
That'll bear mi frail spirit along,
'Tis to croon an' to sing, like a bird upo' th' wing,
Some owd-fashion't Lankysher song.
My feyther onct sung 'em while warkin his loom,
I' th' cottage wheerin aw were born;
An' his joyous owd voice seemt' mek th' whole pleck rejoice
Loike a layrock at th' breikin' o' morn.
Thoose were times o' greit joy all unmixed wi alloy,-
(We'd be fain eaur young days to prolong),
An' aw feel young again, when aw list to th' refrain
Ov some owd-fashion't Lankysher song.
Yo' con speik o' yore Lorryet's fine classic verse,
An' laud 'em for weavin' the'r lays,-
I' honour o' th' great, or for th' Kingdom an' State,
It's a popular theme,-an' it pays!
They're mooar famous nor me, but aw'd rayther be free
To lilt i' mi own whoamly tongue,
An' it pleeoses me best-far above th' rest,-
For't sing an owd Lankysher song."