At the age of three years Gerry started school at St Edmunds infants, then they moved house again, it was to another shop in Teignmouth Street, Collyhurst.. One regular customer was Jackie Brown the boxing Champ, His brother Billy was a school pal of Gerry’s dad.
After this, they made another move, further afield this time to Dagenham Essex. Gerry’s father had got a job working at Fords, a couple of years later they found themselves back in another “Tick” shop, this time in Beswick. Gerry then attended his eighth and final school, St Anne’s Ancoats which he said was his favourite. He left in 1939 and began his apprenticeship at Mather and Platt’s in Newton Heath.
At the age of sixteen Gerry went to work for W.J. Furse Electrical Contractors where he worked on contract, travelling anywhere from South Wales to Aberdeen but he found that all the time he spent travelling clashed with his two main interests, as a Track Cycle Racer and as a Singer. He used to sing with local dance bands but became more attracted to the “Pubs and Clubs” scene.
During his time as a Track Cycle Racer, he found himself competing against some of the top riders including the late “great” Reg Harris. Just like the opposition on the “Track”, so it was in the entertainment business, sharing a stage with names such as Ronnie Hilton, Les Dawson, Ken Dodd and many more. Bernard Manning got his first paid “Gig” at the Salvage in Collyhurst Street, he didn’t have any music so Gerry lent him one of his sheets, he chose “The Falling Leaves”.
Giving up his job with Furse because of the endless travelling up and down Great Britain. He started working at Bradford Colliery as an underground electrician, he left there in 1948 and opened up his own business doing something he really loves, working with bikes. After 54 years he is still making wheels for all occasions be it on rough terrain or at the Velodrome, although his son Christopher now runs the shop.
He counts himself very lucky to have rubbed shoulders with the famous in Athletics and Show business and also many who should have found fame, he really cherished his time with his friends in sport and entertainment, and remembers fondly great characters from Bradford Pit who lit up the darkness, Radio and T.V. Commentators, numerous National and World Cycle Racing champions, too many to name, and old school pals who still call to see him.
Still able to give a good account of his singing voice
he often treats the members at the Barnes Green Club to a few of the classic
popular songs.
