Heysham memories
Here are memories of Heysham and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Heysham or a Heysham photo.
Heysham Tower
This is not so much a personal memory, as a personal connection! My great-great grandparents lived at the Tower. Thomas John Knowlys (b.1803) and his wife, Anna Maria, (MarIea, not Maree-a!!) nee Hesketh, lived and died there, and had most of their ten children there! I believe Anna's father, Robert Hesketh, gave her the land in the area. In the days before petrol, I was interested to learn TJK was Magistrate for Lancashire & Southampton, & JP for Stockwell among other titles! He was a scientist, and invented different types of paint. This I believe led to his untimely death. Their daughter, Frances, married a clergyman, the Rev. Canon T.W. Jones, and they were my ancestors. Two other children went to live at the famous haunted house, Wymering Manor, in Hampshire. The married one of the two had a son, Tom Parr, who is still much talked about at Wymering today! I have an early photograph of Heysham Tower (and several of Wymering).
Morecambe Holiday Camp, Heysham
I went to Morecambe Holiday Camp in the late 1960s and loved it. Went for the next few years, I think it was because my parents could leave us to our own devices and enjoy themselves and go dancing. I loved the outdoor swimming pool and swings. You could even hire a Chopper Bike or Space Hopper. Also the cafe bar where they sold Ice Cream Sundays, which I make for my kids. What about the two TV rooms for BBC1 and ITV. Loved every holiday there.
I Was There Early 1960s
As a 12 year old I went on stage at Heysham Towers and did a monologue about "A cow kicking Nellie in the belly in a barn". This went on with same verse being repeated until the show compere swept me off the stage. We went there every year as a family and stayed in a chalet in the rose garden. I have great memories of it.
What Were You
I remember the big question "Are you a saint or a sinner?". I still have my badge to this day, alas I was a sinner, lol.
Heysham And Entertainment
For a few seasons at Heaysham Towers I was a kid entertainer. I played the accordion and the show was put together by Madam Patti Regina. Johnny Spillers was the entertainment guy. I think the show played on Sunday afternoons.
I live in the USA now but often think of the old days.
Grant Slinger
Heysham Towers
Morecambe Bay Holiday Camp, aka Heysham Towers, in the early sixties as a teenager. The Towers were owned by the Holdens, I especially remember Derek and Jean. We were roused by the 'phantom buglar' and didn't have a minute to spare until 'Goodnight Campers'. We danced to Norman Robinson's band, and Jack Winston playing the organ. The activities were organised by Reg Kerr and Jimmy MacHugh. We had some good times in the 'Nip Inn'. Sometimes we would go into the village to drink Mrs Holmes' nettle beer or have delicious knickerbocker glories at the tea gardens opposite St Peter's Church. Such happy times, never forgotten.
Sadly, the towers are gone, but the memory lingers on.
My Happiest Workdays. At Trimpell ICI Shell Heysham.
I worked for Trimpell ICI Shell at their Heysham complex from 1962 until1975
Starting as an apprentice electrician and ending up as a shift engineer.I worked under another memory contributer to these collumns Mr Edward George who was a section Engineer and site Instrument and Electrical Manager for many years, a man who brought much new thinking and ways of working to a great company and trainer of men and managers, some of whom are still pioneering the skills today!
Best wishes to all colleagues and managers still ticking over in 2007 I would like to hear from you and your memories of the great place in our past lives. Cheers Gordon Higton.
Childhood 60s Memeoreis
I have fond memories of Heysham as a child, during the 1960s, drinking nettle beer with my brother and sisters. My auntie Hilda and uncle Billy lived in Ulverston, and my uncle worked at the ICI works, I think it was Half Moon Bay, we used to go and sit on the rocks while my uncle used to bring us our dinner which I presume he got from the works. I've not been back to Heysham since being a child. I'm now 57 years old and will be going back in the summer maybe its all changed now but nevertheless I'll go to see and relive some of my childhood. PS I remember once going aboard a destroyer to have a look round I got pictures somewhere so would like to add them soon.
Memories of Lancashire
Post Office
My Mum Elsie Hope and I (Ann Parkinson) ran the Post Office in Heysham Village at the height of its popularity, from 1962 to 1969. Those were the days of wakes weeks when visitors came flooding to Morecambe and Heysham. Apart from the usual post office stuff we sold all sorts of items for people to take home as memories of their holidays, as well as hundreds of post cards each week. My step-father Roland worked at ICI during the week but liked nothing more than helping in the shop on busy Sundays in the summer. We lived in Heysham Hall Drive and used to spend time at Heysham Towers Holiday Camp. I have really happy memories of living and working in Heysham, and having nights out with friends in Morecambe, also seeing shows at the Winter Gardens. Two of my daughters and I visited Morecambe and Heysham a few weeks ago. It was so sad to go into the Winter Garden and see it in... Read more
Morecambe Musical Festival
From 1952 to 1959, aged 9 to 16 and at Morecambe Grammar School, I played the piano in the solo classes at the Morecambe Musical Festival - a premier event in the calendar of the Winter Gardens. It brought in thousands of people during the week; choirs, brass bands and soloists from Scotland, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Wales etc. with all their supporters, as well as local talent.
If I won my classes during the week I would appear in the grand finals on the Saturday evening and I still have all the certificates to prove it! Very daunting for a young person in that magnificent theatre and on that enormous stage. Every few years I come back and remember the Winter Gardens as it used to be in those halcyon days of the 50's. How it has all changed, especially as I had a tour round the old theatre a couple of years ago and saw how much decay had set in.
I went on to Manchester University to gain... Read more
End of Pier Show, The Follies
I appeared in the show along with other artistes, some of the names elude me. The show was produced by Herman and Constance Wells. I was the song and dance man! Mario Lanza was in the great Caruso at the cinema. Can anybody help identify some of the cast? There were four girl dancers. One speciality act. Elvet Hughes (tenor) and an old comedian who I believe at one time understudied Old Mother Riley. Hope you can help, Brian Martin PS - I wonder how many people remember this show ?
Torrisholme in The 1960s And 1970s
My name is Susan Railton (nee Price) and I grew up in Torrisholme in the 1960s and 1970s. It was always a place where everyone knew and cared about each other. I lived on Hyde Road and could see The Square from my bedroom. I remember going to the corner shops where Booths is now. I especially loved Mr Lupton's (I think that was what he was called). In his shop he had a shelf full of lovely sweets in glass jars and he always did a magic trick with the money you gave him. Next to him was the corner grocery shop where you got served with everything you wanted.
I remember the other shop further into the village where the bookmakers is now, it was owned by a woman I only knew as Barbara. Mum would take me in there after we had been to Mass.
My friends and I would often play in the park near the spar shop (or Shaw's as it was known then), I... Read more
HYDE ROAD/ESSEX ROAD
HELLO SUSAN RAILTON/ PRICE. DO YOU REMEMBER ME.
Memorybank total
We're very pleased and excited by your response so far to our "Share your Memories" community.
You've shared 26,151 memories of 5,728 towns & villages across the UK - keep them coming!
Find Memories
Simply search for your favourite places to read others' memories and share your own.
Tips & Ideas
Not sure what to write?
It's easy - just think of an important place in your life and ask yourself:
How does it feature in your personal history?
What are your best memories of this place?
How has it changed over the years?
How does it feel, seeing these old photos of your favourite place?
Do you remember stories about the local community, its history and people?
Start now!
It's easy to add your own memories and reconnect with your shared local history. Search for your favourite places and look for the orange "Add your Memory" icon to begin.
Places this week
Here are some of the places you've shared memories of this week:
- Croydon, Surrey
- Walsall, West Midlands
- Wimbledon, Greater London
- Brynamman, Dyfed
- Frizington, Cumbria
- Corringham, Essex
- Warnham, West Sussex
- Bushey, Hertfordshire
- Nantyffyllon, Mid Glamorgan
- Stroud, Gloucestershire
- Bredbury, Cheshire
- Leytonstone, Greater London
- Kirkham Abbey, North Yorkshire
- Battersea, Greater London
- Orpington, Kent
- Grasmere, Cumbria
- Hawthorn, Wiltshire
- Perivale, Middlesex
- Bowness-On-Windermere, Cumbria
- South Merstham, Surrey
- ... and lots more - Browse this week's memories now.
Your memories
To jump straight to the memories you have added already to the Community, click here
I Remember When...
This stunning compilation highlights some of the best stories selected from the thousands contributed here on the
Frith website. The result is an absorbing chronicle of British life from the Second World War to the mid 1960s.
A colourful treasure trove of memories, "I Remember When" is an
irresistible mix of personal stories and recollections that affectionately reveal the detail of everyday life in Britain.
