Recently added memories

Castle 1962, Kilsyth
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My mother, Doreen Hall (Nee Bilton) has related these memories to me: I started nursing at St James’ Hospital, Leeds (Jimmy's) in 1948. I was 17 years old, the only one straight from school. I was at Jimmies for 3 years but was allowed to stay for a while as a staff nurse after I had passed my exam as my friend had to do a re-take and we wanted to go together to do midwifery in Scotland. (see more under Leeds). Jean & I did our midwifery training at Lennox Castle Maternity Hospital, Campsie, Scotland. A year long course in two halves with an exam in the middle. I remember the practicals – we were allocated a patient & a doctor & had to do written test too. We lived in Nissan huts which were in field, on flat land, just below the castle. It was lovely countryside. The hospital was attached to a main hospital in Glasgow – wards were brick built but newly built – a T shape. When babies were born, we had to carry them outside in a basket, with two handles, to the ward they would be in. Mums & babies stayed 10 days. Premature babies had their own ward & had to be sat up in their cots with a tube in the nose for feeding. There were no incubators in our hospital – the ‘prems’ would be dressed in hand knitted hats and coats. ... Read more

High Street c1955, Three Bridges
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You can see two shops with their awnings to the left of Barker's Garage. The first shop was a newsagent/tobacconist run by Harold and Esther Dack. Esther was my mum's best friend. I remember going in there, aged about 8 or 9, to buy a "pink cone", ie an ice cream. The assistant misheard me, and after a certain amount of searching handed me a pink plastic comb. I was so speechless and embarrassed that I bought it! (My mum later spoke to Esther and I got my money back). The shop next door was Walder's the greengrocer. The awning to the right of the garage was Barker's retail shop, selling car parts, bicycles and all sorts. This old row of shops, together with the original Barker's garage, were all demolished in the early 1960's.

Heath Vale Bridge 1905, Ash Vale
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My husband recently took me on a trip down Memory Lane to Ash Vale. I am 76 years old and can remember everything so vividly, having been evacuated there during the war years. We lived in Balmoral Road and my mother became friendly with a Mrs Bugdale in Wharf Road (her house has been demolished, making way for Budgen's!). It saddened me to see the changes, but thankfully much of it is the same. A few yards from us lived the Mills family - I can remember Maureen, Jasmine, Margaret and Jessie. My best friend was Fay Stannard from Grove Road. It always seemed to be warm and sunny in those days and many a happy hour was spent in the Ashill Recreation Ground below our house (the former gravel pit). My last recollection is of the VE party held in Ash Wharf, when we had a bonfire and fireworks. I still have the group photograph. Our old house is still there, having been changed and a bungalow erected on the ground next to it, which originally was our garden. I well remember the house on the corner of Balmoral Road, now Budgen's, as the lady occupying it used to speak to us, a Mrs. Blundell. I well remember a group of us used to meet on the bridge and walk along the pipes crossing the canal. It was a miracle someone did not fall in and nobody ever reprimanded us! They were all happy days and the friendship between my mother,... Read more

c1965, Tongham
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Boy I miss Tongham. Not because of how great it is, but because how great it was. Growing up there as a young boy has to be one of the best experiences a boy could have. I used to live on Northside, number 3, along with my brothers James and Mark. The only Portuguese people in the village (Mum was, Dad wasn't). I moved there as a 3 month old baby and stayed until I married and moved away in 1992. As a child, one cannot forget, the Rec, the Red cross, the youth club. Such great memories of when a community was a community and a community mattered. We sorted out our own problems amongst each other. I remember with such fondness the people who made that community. The people like Joe the copper, the Collis's newsagent, the cafe with the penny flick machine that later became Bert's chippy. The carnivals and the first time a fairground came to the village. Such great people who gave everything for the kids, Roger Rickwood, Dave Aslett who ran the footie teams and Roger taught boxing up at the youth club with no worries about health and safety. Then of course there was the famous White Hart Pub ran by the time I was old enough to get in by Dave and Stella Trott. Stella was scary but me Dave and Howard Taylor were the only Palace fans in the village so kept safe. Dave would be renowned for locking the pub doors,... Read more

The Viaduct c1955, Ashington
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Who remembers running along the two boards inside the bridge and jumping between the gaps. Scary or what, or did you not live dangerously like me and Tom Eastlake?

St Michael's Church, Ditton Hall c1965, Ditton
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I lived in Ditton as a boy and went to Ditton St.Marys school (often mistakenly referred to as St.Michaels), with my twin sister. We were not Catholic but went to the church frequently. I remember the Head Masters Mr.Murphy and later Mr Hardman and also the lady teachers Messrs Leather, Anthony, Mooney, Blount and Longton and also Mr. Ludden and Mr.Harding. We later went on to Wade Deacon Grammar School around 1950. In Coronation year 1953 I won the Widnes town Talent Competition as a low character comedian and I remember the street parties and other events.I now live in Hough Green not far from 'Saint Mikes' and paint pictures.

Aston Hall Park And Church 1896, Birmingham
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Eileen Handley My father was born in 1937 in Birmingham, UK. He had an older brother Gordon (known as Tom) and a baby sister Eileen. When my dad was 4 years old, his mother (Amy) died from Bronchial Pneumonia. His father (Earnest), unable to cope with a young family at wartime placed my father and his brother into an orphanage (Sir Joshiah Mason Orphanage in Birmingham). His sister was adopted (not placed in an orphanage) and from what we know, Eileen was adopted by the Caretakers of Aston Hall, Birmingham at that time. From memory (Dad's recollection) the Caretaker's surname was Partridge but not entirely sure (I know it was a bird surname). I have tried, without success, in the past to locate Eileen through the Salvation Army only to be told that the adoption was probably illegal as no records could be found, but I really do not know. I understand that illegal adoption was not unusual at the time, sadly. My dad's brother died a year ago and now, sadly my father is terminally ill and in a hospice. In some of his lucid moments he has mentioned his long lost sister Eileen and the link with Aston Hall. There is a definite association between the two here and I would just like to know what happened for peace of mind. If there is anyone that could shed any light on this I would be so grateful not just for my own sake but... it would be just so good... Read more