Hale, Ashley Road c1955

Grandmas School house and Booths the milkman

In 1964 my most profound memories were of staying with both my Grandparents in there home which was the old school house. George booth the local milkman had his dairy next door and every time i arrived i used to help him every day with his deliveries throughout the whole area. He used to have an old Standard van and i used to stand on the back door ledge, jumping out with milk bottles in hand and running up the long exotic drives, in some areas, to deliver milk, butter, eggs,fresh orange etc. Both my Grandparents are buried in the chapel yard in Hale Barns, as well as my Fathers sister, Katheryn, who was an air hostess at Ringway, untill her young death through a long illness. My Father is still alive and well, as is my Mother who will be 90yrs this year. Before moving to Coventry where my father was a fireman all his working life here, he was in the Merchant Navy and then a grave digger ib Hale Cemetry. I and my sister both had some great family holidays in the vllage and have fond memories of many long lost friends, from when the village was the most peacefull antiquated place, 'except if fire engines' were rushing to the airport, which always had us wondering what could of happened.
Memories of scrummping apples from some of the larger house grounds, and walking down to the River Bolin with a couple of sandwiches and drink to have a swim or go fishing with a bit of branch and nylon twine. We were all so innocent, but always safe. OH FOR A RETURN TO THOSE DAYS!!!! I have returned periodically once with my own son, now 7 going on 17, and actually went into the old school hall some years ago, where another memory came flooding back- me in army uniform giving a talk on military life to the womens institute, aged 17, and my Grandmother sitting looking so proud.
I hope this is of interest to some people young enough to remember those long lost days.

Railway Street

I lived above the shop at 18 Railway St., which is visible just past the lamp post, from 1952 to 1961. At that time it was a branch of MacFisheries, where my father was the manager. Next to it looking down the road was Brookes & Wilkinsons' Tripe Shop & next to this on the corner of Railway St. & Regent Road was Wilsons' Bon Marche, all these shops have now been converted into one large jewellers. The large building in the background on the left hand side is the Stamford public house, now sadly demolished. The one on the other side with the triangular apex was a branch of Martins' Bank, still there, but now Barclays. The shops on the right with the blinds, a feature still used well into the 1950s, are all due to be knocked down shortly. Apart from a tower block, where the pub was, the scene has hardly changed in 100 years.

Cross Street 01

The large corner "shop" on the left was the showroom of North West Gas where you could pay your gas bill. This is now Dawsons music and instrument shop.
The corner shop on the right was Hawkins tailors, on two floors. This is now a MacDonalds restaurant.

An apprentice

I believe that the building in the right foreground with the spire is Eustace G.Parker's, where I was an apprentice watchmaker from 1965.
Comments please...

Shopping at Brooks

We grew up in Stamford Road and, at the time this photo was taken, I was 8. I remember our mother taking us shopping with my younger brother and sister as walked from our house to Brooks which for us was the most wonderful bazaar, full of colour and all sorts of goodies that we hoped our mother would buy. It always smelt of fresh coffee, as there was an old red and gold enameled coffee grinder continually in use. My mother ordered the groceries, that were delivered later in Brooks' van. Often we would then go to the Post Office which was a few doors down to the right of the picture, and would then cross the road to the sweet shop in front of Brooks to spend our pocket money on liquorice sticks, lollipops etc.
Opposite the Post Office (out of picture to the right) was a room attached to the Church which was used for Sunday School.