Stories by Anne Knight
BUXTON
Today we got the 11 am train. I think that’s right, for today I was
having a day out in Buxton.
We climbed the stairs to platform 1, looking across I noticed a lot of
ramblers. Ben and I wondered where they were going? We thought it could
be the Manchester Ramblers. At that moment the loudspeaker announced
that the Buxton train would be on platform 0, so we had to go down the
steps again through the passage to the new staircase that leads onto
platform 0. We asked the ramblers if they were from Manchester. They
weren’t! They did tell us but, sadly, I can’t remember where they were
from. They wore green tops with a badge and one said: ‘Good for your
health.’ They had light grey shorts and were of all ages.
Ben asked: ‘Where are you going, I’m a walker?’ ‘Combs,’ they replied.
We did not have long to wait on the platform. A group got on the front
carriage, we got on the back carriage with the walkers. The group never
stopped talking, no mobiles to be had. That made my day, a crowd talking
amongst themselves; people from the group paced past us to the people
behind. We sat next to a couple, husband and wife. They were not walking
that day but having an easy time saying they were going to Buxton.
‘That’s what we’re doing, we have a walk along the canal.’ ‘That’s our
walk,’ said the lady.
I told them that I didn’t walk these days but had been a walker many
years ago saying: ‘Going to Buxton on the train is the nearest I see to
where I walked. I enjoy the changing seasons from winter to autumn. I
enjoy the changes in colour of the fields and trees.’ The man opposite
Ben was a football fan. His wife said: ‘By name! He loves cricket.’ Ben
replied: ‘I do too!’ I remarked: ‘I like watching cricket when the teams
are playing for the Ashes.’
Nearly there – the ramblers had got off early as they were walking to
Combs, the train soon arrived at Buxton. We said goodbye to our
neighbours on the train. Instead of going to the Pavilion, today being a
weekday, first I called for some new skirts for myself. I bought two for
£28. I do like the Scottish Shop, I’ve bought a lot of clothes from them
over the years.
We made our way to the centre of town, which has a university, part of
Derbyshire University. As it was nearly lunch time we looked for
somewhere to eat, noticing, as we walked by, Hargreaves, a pot shop, or
should I say china. There hung a notice saying cafe. ‘Oh, let’s try this
one.’ We climbed the stairs. Myself, I’d never been inside as usually it
was a Sunday when Ben and I came to the fairs at the Pavilion. (Going
back to what I was saying.) First you choose what you want, then you’re
given a ticket. Walking through an archway we found a window seat.
Square tables and Edwardian chairs. On one table it said Edwardian Cafe.
I picked up the menu to find, on the back, it had the history of
Hargreaves. I read this, with great interest, from top to bottom. Then
came the magic word Stockport. Stockport had two shops. I know my son’s
cub leader’s wife worked in one, so I told the staff that we had come
from Stockport for a day out and knew a lady who worked in Hargreaves.
The waitress was delighted.
My meal came: a baked potato with cottage cheese, apple and sultanas;
plus salad. Ben had lamb with apple and sultanas, plus salad. The tea
was a good brew, lovely flavour. There was a beautiful glass panel that
made the cafe look bigger. Glass display units of the period with
wonderful things on show (books, photographs of Mr Hargreaves, plus many
more things.) I was in awe of the beauty of this cafe. I’m sure we will
come again. We had a very quiet hour there, but time to leave.
Making our way downstairs we bought my son’s birthday present plus a
magnet for the fridge. After I’d purchased these things we made our way
up to the old health shop. I bought mixed nuts. We both tried a sample
of sheep’s cheese. There was no salt in it. Ben said: ‘Let’s go to the
Pavilion.’ The two cafes are gone now, just a coffee shop and
restaurant. The Orangery, where people could have light meals, is now
The Arts, pictures plus many other nice things.
By now I was getting a bit leg weary so we went to the coffee shop for a
coffee, but they had no cream. We had one milk between us. After a rest
we took a short cut to the road which leads to the station. Once again
in Stockport, we took another short cut, through Grand Central, to the
bus stop.
We arrived home. Had a lovely day, a lovely warm day. A really good day
out.