Irby In The 50's

A Memory of Irby.

My father Dennis Stephens, used to manage the tennis courts and bowling green on Mill Hill Road. My aunt Effie Wheildon, took over the pet shop after Grace Shatwell ended her tenure and moved from her bungalow (opposite our house at 59 Mill Hill) further down the road to another house that was once a market garden, where she opened a little shop. Grace and her son William emigrated to New Zealand, and I met her in Aukland for dinner when we were on holiday there in the early 1990's.
My father was a well known character around the village, a respected horticulturist and also the village chimney sweep among other things. George Devaney was my brother-in-law, and his daughter Cecile is my niece. She married Len Robinson from Coombe Road and they emigrated to Canada about 1980 and she is now a Canadian citizen. Sadly, Len died of cancer about two years ago.
I have lived in the US since the early 80's and just retired after 25 years as a commercial real estate broker here. I was in the 1st Thurstaston Scout Troop, and Methodist Youth Club with Peter Constantine and went to Coombe Road with Mickey Simister, Bobbie Carter and others. Later, went to Calday Grammar with Ken Egan, Alan Deacon, Paul Leidecker, Graham Steward and Mickey Rogers. One of my friends was Ian Lamb from Glenwood Drive, who spent two weeks touring France, Luxembourg and Germany on the back of my motorbike when we were Rover Scouts.
Where are they all now I often wonder. Happy days. Irby will always be a part of me, no matter where I am.
I would love to hear from any who remember those days. My email is sastephens45@gmail.com
Wishing you well. Arnold Stephens