Hi Folks,
Was talking to my 85 year old Dad today, picking his brains for little bits of info. He then told me about his dad (who was born in 1885) and what his dad did when he was just a lad. It seems Grandad was what was called a 'cock-horse boy', which meant that he had to unharness the tram horses at the bottom of Muswell Hill, hitch up another pair of horses who would then trundle back up Muswell Hill. Grandad then was promoted to a tram-driver, still pulling two horses, and ended his working life as an electric tram driver.
Now, am I being fanciful or is this some connection with the nursery rhyme "Ride a Cock-horse to Banbury Cross", perhaps? Anybody know more about this expression of a 'cock-horse boy'? Interesting, eh?
Chris
Was talking to my 85 year old Dad today, picking his brains for little bits of info. He then told me about his dad (who was born in 1885) and what his dad did when he was just a lad. It seems Grandad was what was called a 'cock-horse boy', which meant that he had to unharness the tram horses at the bottom of Muswell Hill, hitch up another pair of horses who would then trundle back up Muswell Hill. Grandad then was promoted to a tram-driver, still pulling two horses, and ended his working life as an electric tram driver.
Now, am I being fanciful or is this some connection with the nursery rhyme "Ride a Cock-horse to Banbury Cross", perhaps? Anybody know more about this expression of a 'cock-horse boy'? Interesting, eh?
Chris
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