Haslington, the Village c1960

Harmel House, High Street, Haslington. and Castleigh House

I am researching my Sims-Hilditch family tree. Does anyone remember Edwin Sims Hilditch at Castleigh, Haslington around 1931? And at Harmel House, High Street, Haslington around 1946? Are they on the Frith photos?

Edwin's and Ada's (nee Knott) son Tom Sims Hilditch's name appears on the Haslington war memorial. I believe his boat was torpedoed in 1941 - can anyone tell me more?

Haslington village Post Office

My Grandparents ran the post office in Haslington for many years (not sure how many exactly). Their names were Harry and Connie Jones, they built the business up from nothing and delivered newspapers, ran the post office and made their own ice cream which my mum always said people came from miles to buy. They were always up at 5 o'clock in the morning sorting out the newspapers and delivering them as well as running the post office.  They had three children, Nancy, Bob and Dorothy, they were all brought up in the village and helped in the shop, and knew everyone in the village with living at the Post Office. Of course the village was a lot smaller then. Across the road from the Post Office, on the corner, was a Smithy, where I can remember horses being shod and the sound of the anvil as they put the shoes on the horses.

Run for the bus

The Square was the bus terminus, overlooked by the bus office on Market Street on the upper floor. It was always full of buses, my buses were the 12.10 and 12.25 going home from school for lunch. I would have to run to catch the 12.10 but usually had to wait for the 1225, having missed the other. I have earlier memories too of being dragged aboard as the bus was leaving (we were always late.

Queens Park

I remember when I started school - I think it may have been Brierley Street, but I left Crewe in l956, aged 8, so I am not sure, but we lived on Nantwich Road in a flat above the Co-op. From the late 1940s my dad (Sydney Alston) used to work for Rolls-Royce as an upholsterer. I used to play every day after school in Queens Park, in the paddling pool with my spaniel Gracie (it was safe in those days) and I always took jam butties and that orange juice from the school clinic which was thick and in a glass bottle with a turquoise label and top and had to be diluted.

Queen's Park

I think the Queen's Park was nice one time.