Leicester, Gallowtree Gate c1950

The Eclipse Pub

The public house in this picture is 'The Eclipse'. I lived in the Eclipse as a small boy in the mid 1950s. My bedroom was on the top floor. I use to lie in bed at night and watch the Bovril electric sign across the road. My grandfather and grandmother kept the pub, their names were Charlie and Elsie Haigue. As small boys we use to take our toys and play in Cheapside, just ouside Walkers the butchers. The Eclipse was a very popular pub at the time, a very busy meeting place. It was always full with many colourful characters. Sadly no longer a pub, the building is still there. I often look up to my bedroom when I am walking past. That was a time when you were safe up town.

Fond memories of Wyggy Girls'

I well remember starting at Wyggeston Girls' Grammar School in Sept 1968 with my new shiny leather satchel. I was so proud of my black velour hat, black gloves, and 'sensible lace-up shoes'.  It had been my ambition to go to Wyggy Girls' from the age of five, when a girl visited class 1, St Joseph's Primary School, Armadale Drive. I fell in love with the uniform. I was so thrilled when I found out I had won a place there! Miss Pedley, our headmistress, certainly knew how to keep control of us. Even the teachers used to tremble! What a great education I got, the very best. It gave me a love of literature, and the French language. What a shame when I visited it in 2003, from New Zealand, where I now live. Miss Pedley would have been outraged at the litter around the grounds! Still, I have very fond memories of old Wyggy Girls'.

De Montfort Rocked

Good to see DeMontfort Hall as it used to be. It was a great venue to see bands there. Once the small blues clubs had ran their course bands needed larger venues to ply their trade, De Montfort was one of the first, I saw Rory Gallagher, John Hiseman's Collesseum,Yes, Sutherland Brothers/Quiver and never to be forgotten Free (when they reformed briefly) the last band I ever saw before the modernisation of the hall was Uriah Heep with a rather drunk David Byron fronting the band. Other major bands to visit DeMontfort were Genesis, Supertramp and the most under rated bunch of musicians to ever grace these shores The Sensational Alex Harvey Band (God rest his soul)
Today Demontfort is an all seater venue, no more standing on the dance floor! I liked the venue but on my last visit it had become a bit sterile with anyone wishing to show any emotion for the music rocking awkwardly in their seats. I'm afraid DeMontfort has obviously needed a make over for many years but in doing so (like so many other venues) has lost it's soul in the process. The only simularity to those 70's years is the rush for the bar in the interval although now it appears to be well dressed men and women thrusting their money under the barmens nose...........God ! maybe one of those well dressed men could be me.......I TAKE IT ALL BACK !!!

Thomas Pritchard , Chief Constable circa 1780's

My wife Merlyn's great, great, grand uncle, Thomas Pritchard, held the position of Chief Constable in Leicester during the 1770's to 1790's. He had seven sons, and the youngest Thomas migrated to Australia and settled in Bendigo, Victoria in 1850's, as a result of the gold rush. He married a Mary Stevenson, who also was born in Leicester. Thomas joined with a colleague Chamberlain to form Pritchard and Chamberlain, Brewery. His son Thomas Pritchard joined the firm. He was a well known opera singer in Bendigo. He named his house Leicester after his father's birthplace.

Memories of life

I was born in 1942 and spent my childhood years living in the way road area of the city.  My brother and I were lucky enough to have a family living directly behind us in Homefield Avenue (I think that is what it was called) there were three children. We used to spend many happy hours playing in the brook at the bottom of the garden getting very wet and kindly neighbours used to dry us out so we did not get into trouble. I think I can honestly say that we all had a happy childhood, most of the time was spent outside making our own fun. Our friends' family had a little wooden cabin out at Woodhouse Eves and we used to have weekends there visiting Bradgate Park, which I still do from time to time. When I visit now, we also go to Gibsons Grey Lady. Something else that I remember well was going into town with my mother and Aunt and visiting the shop that is now Fenwicks we always had afternoon tea there and if I was good I could have a cake. As we grew up we all went our different ways, my brother now lives in London and our three friends moved to the USA. Sadly the elder of the three died but I am still in touch with the remaining two and hope to visit next year. I still have a friend in Leicester so visit quite regularly, she is the best friend anybody could have. I also write to a friend of my mother's, my mother having died earlier this year. I would say that by and large my memories of Leicester are good I was happy there.