Gervis Road Collyhurst Flats 1945 1964
A Memory of Collyhurst.
My name is Tom Smith. I was born in 17 Gervis Rd, Collyhurst Flats in August 1945. My dad was Jack Smith and my mam was Ada; there were 6 kids, John, Mary, James, (me) Andrew, and Arthur. To me the flats were a maze to play in for hours when it was wet. When the sun shone we played cricket out front using a lamp-post as a wicket, an old board as a bat, and usually an old popped tennis ball, but god forbid if you ever managed to hit a window! We spent hours playing on Barnys Hills and always came home stinking and wet, so it was a clout off mam and a bath. The river Irk was another favourite; I loved the way it would be different colours depending on what effluence was being pumped into it further up from the river. I remember playing on a lake called Lankies(?) at least that's what we called it. The Jacobs cracker factory was across a small river. Queens Park was great, but I preferred Bogart Hole Clough - much more fun - and crab apples near the stream, bottle of water and some jam butties to keep you going for the day (which were usually all eaten before you even got there). I went to St Malachys from 1949 til 1959 hard school, but nice memories. Friends and lads I knew; George Bushell, Alan Williams - he had a sister Shelia, Tony Ford, Ray la Plante, Roy Camp, and a lad called Doran. I would love to hear from anyone that can give me names to people living in the flats at that time. I can see faces etc.. but not remember names.
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