[The following is a transcript of a life story hand written by Norman Barton sometime after he retired in 1972. A few words could not be deciphered. The dates around his completing his articles in St Helens seem confused.]
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Born 23rd June 1907 to Evan Barton Grocer and Ethel Barton (nee Lamb) at 22 Harrogate Street Wigan, who were married on the 16th May 1906 both aged 30 years and at St Georges Church Wigan by Rv Evlyn Kingsbury Curate of Wigan.
My first awakening was in my cot by the side of my parents’ bed, age I do not know but I remember seeing a gas jet alight and the rest darkness; gas was the manner of lighting.
My next recollection was when I had measles and my relatives waving to me through the window of our living room. It might have been soon after this that my father took me to New Brighton; we were about to enter a restaurant for a meal when I was violently sick and I only remember being on the ferry boat back to Liverpool and the warmth of my Father’s arm around me must have been something unusual, as the memory of it is still very strong in me, I felt safe.
The day I first went to school which was in the same street where we lived, was a bright sunshine day I remember entering by one door and then another facing it when I turned round to see the sunshine outside and a frame with something inside it on the wall over the door, this turned out to be the first classroom and the picture the Map of England
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We taught to weave strips of coloured paper between what I seem to remember as string we were taught to write on a slate with a [???] sort of material on the pen or pencil I do not remember much of this class or the next two, except that the teacher chose each day a member of the class to be a monitor. The only thing I remember about this was that when sticky gum was used in the lesson the pupil had the pleasure? of going around the class using it to stick together [???] paper what had been made. I also had a little talent crayon drawing I remember drawing a lighthouse and although I painted a little in water paint later in life it did not amount to much, indeed one of my sons and his friends hung one of my paintings in the garage and used it for gun practice.
From this school I went to the Parish Church School, I remember very little apart from Armistice day in 1918 when we were given a half day holiday and the fact that I always seemed to finish my arithmetic sums in half the time the paper took.
I won a scholarship to the Wigan Grammar School where I progressed till 1924, having obtained the usual Certificate .
Until March 1926 I was content to
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assist my cousin Evan in his haulage and potato sales, when my Father said was it not time to think of what I wanted to do, first it was suggested a chemist my uncle Edward had a friend who was a chemist and wanted to take me on as apprentice, however I had dropped chemistry at the Grammar School, it was next suggested accountancy and as I liked figures this was it. I answered an advert for an articled clerk in St Helens and articled to a Mr N. R. Evans Incorporated Accountant, I think on the 26th March 1926.
The Practice was carried out in George St. St Helens with a branch open in Prescot.
My articles continued five years and in Nov 1925 [THIS MUST BE WRONG?] took my Final Exam and passed to my surprise my articles ceased on 26th March 1926 [THIS IS SAME DATE HE SAYS HE STARTED?].
After passing my final exam it was suggested to me by Mr Evans that I would benefit by a posting abroad. I answered an advert in the Daily Telegraph for a position in Bombay India with a British Company registered in India. After a while and two interviews I was offered the position at a Salary about three and a half times higher than in England. I complied the three year contract and sailed in early april on the [MISSING] from Birkenhead. Marian saw me
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off along with my Father and Mr Evans. I had three weeks on board and tasted food the like of which I had not had before. We called at Marseille and Port Said. The firm W? N? Brody? & Co had found a bed-sitter for me and a bearer (Indian Servant). I took [???] not one but [???] [???] [???] [???] a Director of the firm told me of a friend of his bearer who was out of work, his name was Manon and we had a happy relationship for [???] [???] [???]. I enjoyed the life and especially the food and fruit, at the end of the three years I returned home after refusing a position in Ahmedebad. All this time Marian and I had communicated and were married on 2nd May 1935. To my great sadness my Father died in Feby 1937. My brother died in 1922. Upon visiting my old office I was taken on again but soon found a position in Wigan where I worked until just before the 2nd World War when I commenced my own practice in King St. Wigan moving to Bridgeman Terrace Wigan about two years before I retired in 1972.
Norman And Marian Barton Family Tree 