“Amazing Grace”, Cliff Hawes affectionately called her as she was so regarded by many in Methley. Grace Causier (Moore) was probably better known than the Rector or the Doctor in post war austerity times.
I only knew her as the lady who ran the off licence shop on Main Street – you took your empty jug in and came out with a foaming container of draught ale to drink at home (some took big jugs).
She it was who started in business selling green groceries from the pony and trap before getting the shop.
Always one to play a role in the community, she revelled in fancy dress outfits such as Carmen Miranda at the annual Methley Carnival and the Easter Bonnet competition at the Top Club – when challenged as to why she won so many of these competitions she gave short shrift by saying she entered more than anybody else. Along with fellow thespian Millicent Flintoff, they were uproariously entertaining at the Parish Hall shows as can-can girls, not many could match Grace with her rendition of ‘Nobody loves a fairy when she’s forty’.
She was later to become secretary of the British Legion (Yorks) Womens Section and represented them on more than one occasion in uniform at the Albert Hall concert and the Remembrance Parade at the Cenotaph in Whitehall.
She was a long standing secretary of the Darby and Joan club arranging their holidays and outings, continuing to assist during the Cliff Hawes’s period as Secretary. Her most memorable trip was on a return from the coast, the bus pulled into Stamford Bridge for light (ale) refreshments for the evening. At closing time the happy tourists came out to find heavy rain had caused deep flooding outside the pub and the party had to be rescued to get back to the bus.