Raby, The Wheatsheaf Inn c.1950

Photo ref: R413301

My memory is not so much of the Wheatsheaf, although I did visit a few times during my youth, a nice place to take a new girlfriend for a drive. But nearby is the Mere, a huge lake in the middle of an agricultural area. When I was a kid there were rowing boats that could be hired for a trip up the river. I can remember there was a small penny arcade near an old garage with flip ball machines and even a "what the ...see more

A Sunday day out from New Brighton with my family, playing French cricket on the field above the mere, I watched the rowing boats. In 1958 I went a ride there on my bike one day. I wanted a row on the boat. The gentleman in charge said it was a shilling (5p), I could not afford that. He told me to come back on a Saturday morning and I could row all I wanted to for sixpence (2 1/2p), so I did. The kind man ...see more

I remember bike rides first with my dad and then with my brothers Glyn and Paul and cousins David and Neil to Raby Mere. The lake was so calm and peacfull and we hired the lovely clinker built skiffs for a row. My dad taught us to row there without 'catching crabs'! I remember the penny machines well and ice cream from the garage shop. The mere seems so small now compared to our Lake Taupo in New ...see more

I spent a few summer holidays with my auntie who lived in Bromborough. I used to go to Raby Mere with my cousins, Gerrard and Chris. I remember  some swing boats there, we used to love going on them.