Gosforth memories
Here are memories of Gosforth and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Gosforth or a Gosforth photo.
Shops I Have Loved...
I grew up in Bath Terrace in the early 1960s and the photo of Wilkinsons brought back memories of its pre-supermarket days of high dark wood counters, butter in barrels and the smell of roasting coffee. Pumphreys with the pastel coloured sugars and exotic coffee beans, Moods where I bought a first gift for my mother of a tiny china cat in a woven basket (I still have it), Thorpes the hardware shop which I think is still there....I have the family's first electric Xmas tree lights we bought from there! They still work and have never needed a new bulb! Paradise slices from Robson and Porteous, wonderful creamcakes and Shrewsbury biscuits from the delectable Smythes, sweets and the first soft ("Tastee-Freez") ice cream from Hennells, Arkles the butchers where huge knives were wielded so noisily on the wooded butcher's block that my little brother and I were scared to go in. Henderson's the greengrocer, the Royalty cinema of course endlessly playing the Shadows' "Wonderful Land" between items. The Toddle... Read more
Growing up in Gosforth 1960-1980
I am young enough to remember Gosforth as a thriving High Street and as a boy buying models from Boydells and my first singles from Woolworths, getting the 45 back and forth with my older brother to go to school too - we were 7 and 8. Witnessing the carnage as traffic volumes and lack of parking killed off many of the shops which became building societies, estate agents and shops full of bric-a-brac. After two decades of traffic congestion I believe the High Street is once again becoming a focal point for the community. At the top of this shot in the rain I shunted my mum's brown Mini into the back of a VW Beetle on my first 'accident.' I'd been driving for less than a year. At the age of 8 or so I narrowly escaped being flattend by a white Rover whilst cycling across a junction after the lights had changed. I'm still here!
Memories of Tyne and Wear
Trams, Markets And Bright Yellow Trolly Buses
With big hugs from waiting family on one of the many platforms that was Central Station, we hurried though the noise and clouds of steam towards the station exit and into the sunlight...my eyes gazing in wonderment at all the the grand buildings, trams and bright yellow trolly buses, we had nothing like it in our Hampshire town, our railway station had but two platforms and the largest building was the Empire picture house. The queues were long for the big yellow trolly bus,but well worth the wait....for me it was a mad scramble up the stairs and right to the front, to get the best veiw...or best veiw possible considering the amount of smoking going on...on the top deck,one look over my shoulder and it was all headscarfs, flat caps and tab ends, a bus-load of British backbone that would ensure that we would win the war one day soon. On our way we would pass a brewery with a smell that lives with me to this day, along with the... Read more
Steamtrains, Servicemen And Central Station.
The journey up to and across London to King's Cross Station for a 4-year old boy was exciting enough, but our adventure had only just begun. Holding my mother's hand tightly, we searched carriage after carriage for our seats on the packed but magnificent steam engine that was to take us at breakneck speed to Newcastle and the safety of my nana's house in Stanhope Street. Settled in our seats (thanks to a kindly soldier and a sailor) with our case in the above netted luggage rack and our sandwiches and flask of tea on our laps we waited ready to go. The train was full of servicemen and women either returning from or going off to war, even the corridors were crammed full with both men and women sitting on kitbags, including our two heroes who had given us their seats....I always hoped they made it. The 300 mile or so journey was a fantastic collection of sights,sounds and smells as we sped on our way, the greenery of the fields with... Read more
SWEET SIXTEEN
Memories of First Dates
When I was young and very green! , no let’s say not worldly wise! Even know I could die with embarrassment looking back on my attempts to emulate the big screen stars.
My Dad owned a lot of cinemas and naturally I spent a lot of time in them, so learning how it was done (kissing that is!) The first kiss I had makes me still cringe, I spent 2 minutes kissing her bottom lip and chin before I realized I was in the wrong place, the next one I kissed I thought she was going to be ill when lips glued together she opened her mouth I panicked and ran off as I had never heard of 'French kissing'.
Or, how about sitting in the Circle back row of the local cinema kissing...we had had lots of sweets and ice cream and I had smoked a lot of Woodbine cigarettes and I was sick all over the back of this chap... Read more
Now We Are Five!
Ah well here goes!
The old Grand Theatre plays a very large part in my early years (you will find I go on a bit about the place!).
My dad owned the Grand and my first recollection of it was at pantomime time. Dad's Chorus Mistress said I could dance on with the other little children in the juvenile chorus. I had been in most of the dressing rooms that day and as my dad was there I had been treated to a few potato chips in one room some fudge in another and a bit of cake in another and a sip of stout ... and so on.
Being full of excitement and food I linked arms with the other children and danced on to the stage to a packed house! And as we danced along behind the Principle Boy doing her opening song I WAS SICK as I went past her! And I can still remember as it all trickled down her legs what she said 'You... Read more
It's Panto Time! Oh Yes it Is!
You ever been to a panto? Oh yes you have!!! Remember! You go into a large packed hot old theatre full of sticky shouting children and adults trying to look as if they are not enjoying themselves. The house lights dim and the orchestra comes out into the orchestra pit and they settle down, resplendent in dinner suits that have seen better days and tune up the instruments and sit waiting for the Conductor.
Right!
Now let me fill you in with what happens on this cold December night’s production of 'Dick Whittington' many years ago when theatre and panto was still in its heyday. The theatre is now hushed and if you look at the stage you can see the stage lights under the hem of the stage curtain and shadowy feet moving into position ready for ‘Overture and Beginners’ as its called. The Conductor in his best white tie and tails climbs up onto his rostrum, shuffles his music, coughs and raises his baton, taps it... Read more
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Places this week
Here are some of the places you've shared memories of this week:
- New Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire
- Wimbledon, Greater London
- Brinsley, Nottinghamshire
- Earby, Lancashire
- Virginia Water, Surrey
- Braunton, Devon
- St Asaph, Clwyd
- Padstow, Cornwall
- Gravesend, Kent
- Wellingborough, Northamptonshire
- Reigate, Surrey
- Pamington, Gloucestershire
- Greenock, Renfrewshire
- Osterley, Greater London
- Ilfracombe, Devon
- Worksop, Nottinghamshire
- Penrhiwceiber, Mid Glamorgan
- Huyton, Merseyside
- Northfleet, Kent
- Bushey, Hertfordshire
- ... and lots more - Browse this week's memories now.
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