Southport memories
Here are memories of Southport and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Southport or a Southport photo.
Bessie Tarver's Book - Light And Shade
My Grandmother, Bessie Tarver, wrote a book about her life from 1891-1919. She mentions going to Southport, after her mother's death in 1897. She describes going to the pleasure fair and going to her friend's house, which was Sephton House, Princes Street, Southport. Her friend's name was Nellie. I don't have her surname. In 1904, Nellie still lived at Sephton House. It is described as having two large bays windows, with net curtains, a lovely garden with tennis courts. Would anybody know if this house is still standing? I have tried various censuses, without success.
Manz World, Lord Street
I moved to Southport in 1978 and worked at Manz World, I worked with three of the best guys I have ever known, David Pitson, Paul Foreman and Peter Poulter. If anybody remembers me I would love to hear from you.
My One And Only Visit to Southport
Yes, I have been to Southport! Sadly I saw this lovely town once only when I went there to see Southport FC play at their home ground in Haig Avenue.
The occasion was a Monday night in March 1969 and the visiting team were Watford, the team I had been supporting since childhood. I had been studying and working for a couple of years in Manchester so for me it was quite an easy task to get to the ground for the evening kick-off.
Understandably there were no other Watford supporters at this mid-week evening fixture so many miles frm Hertfordshire. I positioned myself near the halfway line on the same side of the pitch as the players' tunnel. Being alone I kept quiet but I couldn't resist cheering the final whistle when Watford came in with a 1-1 draw. This was an important point towards their eventual 3rd Division Championship and promotion to Division 2.
The Watford players heard my... Read more
Lord Street
I started work at Henry Cardin's hairdressing in Lord Street. Lovely girls, Pam and Vanessa, where are you? I live in Malvern now, I did very well and am now retired.
Arthur.
Wragg's Photographic Studio?
Hi - I have a couple of photos of my great-grandmother taken by Wragg, a photographer in Wigan and Leyton Arcade, Southport. I'd like to hear from anyone who can help me date the pictures by comparing the frames.
The pictures:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicdafis/468472134
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicdafis/468483717
Many thanks.
Bickerton
My father was a house master at Bickerton house School in Southport when I was about 3 years old - that is all I know - does anyone remember him? His name is Ian Stark.
Boyhood Days
My dad Leslie had the Talbot Hotel in Portland St from 1955 to 1964, and I went to Sefton St School and then to Bickerton House School in York Rd. I can remember going to Miss Walshe's riding school in Aughton Road where the famous Ginger Mcain of Red Rum used to drive her taxis. The summers always burnt the grass off and there was always snow in winter. As a keen bird watcher my pal Zbignew, a Polish boy would go to the Marine Lake or Hesketh Park to see what we could find, what a time of boyhood, oh how I would love to do it all over again ... Tim Driver, West Beckham, Norfolk.
Trips to Southport Over The Years.
My father's aunt lived in Southport and worked as a radiologist at the Southport Infirmary in those days. We would visit practically every weekend. As I grew up and married and had my own children we always loved visiting Southport. My two daughters had such a lot of fun at Pleasureland. One of my daughters won the Southport Rosebud contest one year which in those days was held in The Floral Pavillion. I enjoyed Lord Street and we often stopped and listened to the band at the Band Stand on Lord Street. Many happy memories of Southport!
Memories of Merseyside
The Walk to School - Ryeground Lane
Having walked up the hawthorn-lined path from Graburn Road to Church Road, I would turn towards the Embassy Cinema and The Grapes Hotel (pictured) and turn into Ryeground Lane on the way to St Peter's Infants School in Paradise Lane. In autumn I would shuffle through the almost knee-high drifts of tobacco-coloured chestnut and sycamore leaves from the arching overhead branches, blown aside by the crimson double-decker Ribble buses. Somehow I don't remember the wet days or even the really snowy days of 1947, just the autumn leaves and possibly conkers. Strange, as I made the same journey from 1944 until 1947. Memories of the Grapes are limited to Charlie Bostock, whose mum worked there, say 1949 to ?1954. He had an underground hideout in the grounds, and Kensitas cigarettes suddenly come to mind. Across from the Grapes was a corner group of shops, all clad if I remember correctly in white tiles. Mrs Knight ran the grocers. Her potted meat was a dream, and butter came in small wooden kegs. The next... Read more
St. Joseph's Home, Holidays
The children of St. Joseph's Patricroft, Eccles, spent their summer holidays at Freshfield. The girls would stay at "Vaughan House" on Victoria Rd the boys at a priest training college nearby. When the weather was suitable we would walk down to the beach passing by the pine tree woods. At the weekend the older girls were allowed to attend a dance in a local hall in Formby.
I did not know at the time that my father had been born at a big house called "Lawnswood" next to Vaughan House in Victoria Rd. The house has since been demolished and replaced with apartments. My father's brother born 1901 was born in Freshfield Rd, the house was called "San Antonio" with no house No stated I have not been able to trace it, the title I take it would have changed over the years. My grandfather Wharton Rye Collinge died in WW1 and is listed on the Formby war memorial. These facts I discovered four years ago, having never knowing... Read more
St Joseph's Nursing Home
My memory is of working on nights at St Joseph's nursing home for people with learning disabilities. I co-ordinated the nursing assistants. At first it was an old building and then three new units were built after the children were moved out and it became an adult home. It was in the middle of the pine woods and in the morning before individuals were awakened, washed and dressed we watched red squirrels and rabbits playing outside the home and the convent, as this home was set up by the Poor Servants of the Mother of God. I remember at times having disputes with some of the nuns (usually about staffing levels) however usually these ended amicably and I really enjoyed and learnt a lot from them.
Formby
St Joseph's Home, Patricroft We Had our holidays at Formby beach. William Bamford I have tried to contact you through this site my emails have not been opened. Can you respond? maureen (Noble) Malone
Holmwood School Pupil.
I have many memories of my time at Holmwood School. I joined as a day boy in 1968, when the Headmaster was David Glass and I left around 1973 when the Headmaster was Johnny Clegg.
I remember the trips we had in the old school bus to Formby sands and Freshfield woods to see the red squirrels.
My days at Holmwood were happy times in the late 60's, with friends and teachers that are now all but distant memories.
Holmwood was a relatively small community by today's standards, but the lessons I learnt then as a small boy have stood the test of time.
It was a sad day when Holmwood ceased to be a seat of learning.
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