Delph, King Street c1955

Remembering

I was brought up in Mossley and have lots of happy memories. My sister Dot still lives there, she fills me in on what is going on.  I now live in Florida but will always be a part of Mossley which I took so much for granted while living there.  I have travelled to a lot of places and countries since I left there but believe me there is nowhere quite like Mossley, it is a lovely place to see.  I show people over here photos and they all say it looks nice.  I had a lot of good friends there.  I went to All Saints C of E, left school in 1959, started work at Astalls foundry then went to the Brunswick mill for a while.  Both parents were born in Mossley so we really belong there.  No matter where I go I will never forget it or my life and friends who are still there, so if anyone wants to get in touch my e mail is pete010@adelphia.net.  I will keep checking back now and then and hope someone else writes here.   It is a good idea, will write some more later..  Pete Brooks

help

I was born in oldham/chadderton but moved away at the age of ten most of my years where happy.... im beggin for help im tryin to find photo of eustace street school ... n chanery street chadderton as they where...plz help me if u can im beggin anyone who as a pic please send it or post it on here many thanks

Childhood memories at Grandma Robinsons.

Funny how some things stay with you all your life, and even when you leave a country you have grown up in, those memories follow you. It was the end of WW2, people were beginning to settle, 'ration books' were used by all. People could leave their lights on at night, and not have to draw the curtains. Us kids played outside till late at night too, and Dad pulled down the air-raid shelter from our back garden.

Our family went from Newport Mon, to see our grandparents. They lived in Stalybridge, at 46 Caroline Street. It was really something going on the train in those days, it seemed to take forever to get there.

Caroline Street, everything seemed to be dark and grey, skies, roads and houses, but there was a bustle as people went about their business. Grandma's house was set right on the pavement. Inside it was dark, and as a child, it felt unfriendly, until all the family sat around the table, enjoying the best ever "Lancashire Hotpot", laughter filled the whole house. I do remember that the stairs to the bedrooms were behind a door. I have never been able to understand why, maybe to keep downstairs warm?? I remember their was a canal behind the back wall of number 46. It may have been the Great Manchester Canal?

But perhaps the strongest memory I have of that visit is of the enormous billboard being put up, just up the road, 'PLAYERS' cigarettes. We stood watching, and then became aware of the piles of rubble around the place. Evidence of the bombing that had taken place, and still not cleared away. I guess there were other things more important than what became known as Grandma' pile of rubble.

We went back to Stalybridge in 1955, when we were leaving to migrate to Australia, and then to New Zealand. I returned in 2000, and had a week with cousins there, and heard again the soft rain. Dad, a true son of Stalybridge, said the rain wore slippers there, and I could imagine that as the rain fell so very gently.

I am so very grateful that when God gave us the ability to remember it was with picture, sound and smell.