General Information
During the year 2000 D J Clark built a visual record of the Lancaster &
Morecambe district using photographs and information submitted by those that
feature in the pictures. The project was conducted in association with Lancaster
Museum and has been archived for future generations to look back at the district
at the turn of the new Millennium. For more information on the project visit
the information page. If you find a caption is
wrong or there is a fault with the page please e-mail D
J Clark.
Date:
August 25th, 2000
Location: Dalton Square
Photographer's Diary
Friday 25th August - Dalton Square Drinkers
It was another beautiful morning and I was forced up at dawn to take pictures.
Starting to run out of subjects I chose a route up over the hills towards Abbeystead
and then round by Forton, Cockeram and home. I am starting to get a little bored
of such outings though I understand in future years the pictures will be of
interest.
I had met Jamie Crawford at Lisa's wedding a couple of weeks previous. I had
heard he was begging on the streets and had developed an alcohol problem. Jamie
was a child at Nazareth House when I worked there many years ago but I had seen
little of him since. He had given me a mobile phone number to contact him on
and had arranged to talk to a crowd of drinkers in the City about me taking
pictures. The mobile had not worked but I found him and arranged to meet him
at midday at his sisters house.
He was there, not too worse for wear, considering I had seen him the night before
and he couldn't stand up for drink, I thought this was a good sign. We went
into town and moved to the square where there was a small gathering of people.
They had recently been moved on from Market square by a new drinking by-law
and made Dalton there new home. It was still banned and on a couple of occasions
they hid there cans as Police drove by, but the Police did not seem as bothered
here.
I sat and talked as I shot some pictures. People came and went
all with tales of court cases and scuffles. Two of the group had recently died
one after another at an early age. Both drug and alcohol related. I soon became
friends with several members of the group. They were intelligent and knowledgeable
and masters of conversation. They had views on every political question in the
press and surprisingly good ideas to solve the world's current problems. One
young man told me of his travels all over the UK, just him and his dog. It seems
there is a town square in every stop where he will meat like minded people,
happy to share a beer and a chat. "You meet the best and the worst of society
living on the streets" I was told. I was convinced I had met some of the
best.
The pictures were strong though the light was poor. They avoided the strong
light and only ventured out to try a circus trick or two. All were buskers or
artists, supplementing there music, theatre and pavement painting with begging
for cash. I was told you could make £40 an hour on a good day, just asking
for spare change. Two children accompanying their parents kept asking me for
pictures. They were I suppose children of the street, and were obviously talented.
The young girl calculated my age in 35 years time much faster than I could and
then went on to roll a cigarette for one of the group. I should have felt sad
for these people but somehow felt jealous of their freedom from social pressures
and ability to enjoy themselves. It was just the poor lad with spiky hair who
sat head hung in the corner was on "gear" (some heroin derivative
I presume) who left me sad.