Some weeks ago a gentleman called at Manchester Family History Society (MLFHS) in Piccadilly, where I am a member, to ask whether we would take custody of an assortment of photos/documents/ Death/Birth Certificate etc. relating to:
Iris Hansbro 16 Sycamore Court Sandal Street Miles Platting born about 1932.

Iris died in January 1995 at North Manchester General Hospital aged about 63 years. She never married and it appears there are no next of kin. I volunteered to attempt to find any persons interested in this family rather than let the man destroy all the documents.

There are references to her father John HANSBRO (deceased) a retired bus driver and her mother Lillian (Deceased). They are shown on various photos on what appears to be the Whit Walks for St. Paul’s in the late 1960s.

Another address mentioned is
56 Wimbourne Street Miles Platting (Tripe Colony).

There is a school class photo taken about 1949 at St Luke’s School Miles Platting. (Photo attached) Iris is 2nd row down 3rd from left.

There is a Holy Bible showing that Iris was Confirmed in March 1949 and made her First Communion in April 1949 at St Barnabas Church Ancoats.

Following the death of Iris, the Executor, (the man that had called at MLFHS,) of her will tried to find any living relatives but was unable to do so what small bequests there were went to charity.

I feel that there must be somebody who knew this family and I would like to pass on the photos. I would be grateful if you could publish this request in the magazine. Anyone having an interest please feel free to telephone me on 0161 485 5261.
Regards John Murray

The letter from Joyce Hibbert nee Lydon of the Herbalist on Oldham Road in issue 21 caught my eye for many reasons.

1. Our family lived just off New Street at 14 Draycott Street between 1945 and 1967 and 1 would play football at the fire station doors with Len Booker, Adge Plumpton, Mike Bates and the Jepsons. At St. Luke's, the school I attended, our teacher Pop Ackley taught us to always play to the whistle. In New Street, though, you played to the fire station bell then we would all stand clear as the firemen dropped their snooker cues, volley balls or stopped their hosepipe drying duties to race to the fire leaving us with no goalposts with the doors left wide open until their return.

2. My gran, Mary, would send me to the herbalists for her sulphur tablets and liquid paraffin etc.

3. My surname is Sutcliffe (Sorry Joyce the Jean in our family is not the same Jean Sutcliffe you are looking for) but I can send you a photo of your old shop taken from a wonderful website that your readers may be interested in (www.imagesofmanchester.gov.uk)
Stan Sutcliffe

I am trying to locate a relative of mine who lived in Halliday Street, Briscoe lane in the late 1930's. John and Margaret Connolly were in their late forties at that time. Despite exhaustive enquiries about Halliday Street I have drawn a blank and would vey much appreciate any information about my relative or/and Halliday Street.
Kind regards Malcolm
m.j.connolly@talk21.com

I read with interest, the article Those Times are Gone written by George Rowland. I was born in 1942, in a little street called Leigh Street East. I do know the name of George's wife Bernice Fieldhouse, If it is the same person, she also resided in Leigh St East and had a sister named Norma and Linda. Also the chip shop that he referred to as Jim Kerr's I remember, although I thought that he was called Jim Carr, This was a long time ago so maybe I am incorrect about that. Anyway we used to drop in his chippy nearly every day, and not always buying chips but asking him to throw us a chip for free. I also remember he used sawdust on the floor of his shop.

I am a little younger than George but he may know names such as Betty Gilbert, Arnold Gilbert, they are my cousins with whom I lived in Leigh St East. Other names: Marie Penney, the Halls, Egans. Hugh Fays grocery store. I myself attended St. Patrick's School and later lived in Providence St in Collyhurst.

I just was curious if indeed Bernice Fieldhouse is the same person I am remembering. I would appreciate it if you could print this e-mail along with my e-mail address.
Annie McGibbon nee Moss
( I now reside in Canada)
becky59@localnet.com