60’s Childhood
I have read and enjoyed many stories in Have Your Say
Magazine both sad and funny regarding the ‘good old days’ of the 30’s
and 40’s and even peoples’ memories from the second world war, but
I note that not many people have written about their childhood in Miles Platting
during the 1960’s. I am returning to the area to watch the Commonwealth
Games so I thought I would share some of my memories with readers of Have Your
Say.
I lived in Kenwyn Street until I was sixteen but I was actually born at No.3 Broxton Street, near the gasworks. My mum was watching members of St. Phillip’s Church walking down Bradford Road to celebrate their anniversary in July 1958 when I decided to make an untimely appearance. My gran’s was the nearest house; hence I was born there only 1/2 an hour later!
My sister and I attended Nelson Street School and I have very
fond memories of my time there including a teacher named Mrs Glover who always
seemed like the perfect grandma, the afternoon nap on the little camp beds with
those horrible ‘army’ blankets that chaffed your skin and playing
in the ‘shop corner’. Some of the pupils I can remember around the
time of 1961-65 are Peter Shufflebottom, Keith Kershaw, Karen Johnson, Denise
Moffat and Eric Thomson.
Unfortunately I can’t name many of the children on my school photograph.
I have wonderful memories of playing in and around Kenwyn Street, particularly during the six weeks holidays, which, when I was a child seemed to last all summer. The light nights meant we could stay out late and play games such as: skipping, two-balls, French skipping, elastics and swinging on a rope tied onto the old type lamp-posts.
I remember on very hot days the tar on the road would melt and bubble and we’d be in trouble with mam because we’d been popping the bubbles with lolly sticks, and some of the tar would end up on our clothes. The warm summers evenings would bring out all the neighbours sitting on their doorsteps chatting, making the most of the pleasant weather.
The bowling green in Miles Platting played an important part in my life as my dad played for Holland Street Bowling Club for many years, so my mam, sister and I spent many days and evenings either watching him play or having a game of putting on the other green. The summer shed was a great place to shelter when it rained and to have a chat with friends, although I do remember being chased out of there by George the ‘parkie’. We had many hours of fun with children from the surrounding streets, who were the best of friends most of the year, except of course on the run up to bonfire night. We would spend weeks ‘logging’ for wood to build a bonfire on the croft at the back of our house, only for it to be raided by other ‘gangs’ as soon as we had gone in. However we always had a wonderful bonfire night when all the families from the street would gather round and sit on the old sofas’ and chairs that were eventually to be thrown on the fire.
I have many wonderful memories of my swinging 60’s
childhood, which I now relate to my own children, for who, I feel times have
changed so dramatically that sadly they will never really know the same kind
of freedom we had then.
