Lobsters at the penny crush!

Just enjoyed reading letters in your magazine and thought I would like to add a few of my memories of the Collyhurst of the twenties and thirties.

I was born 86 years ago at 47 Criney Street, just behind the Albert Memorial School and Church, which was on Queens road opposite Monsall Street. I attended the school the headmistress at the time was Miss Wagstaffe, a very strict teacher but a good one.

Our pleasure times as children were spent on the swings in the ‘Sandpark’ next to the old Willert Street Police Station. Weekends in Queens Park Harpurhey with a bottle of water and jam butties.

A trip to the seaside for the day was to us poor kids like a weeks holiday and didn’t happen very often. The highlight of our week was the Saturday afternoon matinee at the pictures ‘Dickie Banks was quite near to Gay Street Mission. We were given a penny for the pictures and a halfpenny for toffees, which we spent at a little sweet shop opposite the picture house. It was very crushed inside and when the show was over we all came out looking like lobsters with the heat and excitement.

Later on we went a little ‘upmarket’ to the Gem or Plaza on Rochdale Road. I remember Jewish men used to stand on the steps of the Plaza, inviting passers by to come in for a good film, comedy and news for a few coppers.

I lived for the first 17years in Criney Street until the demolition and people were scattered as far away as Wythenshawe. I have lived in Moston for over thirty years and not so far away from where my life began. Looking back to the old Collyhurst before the last War I remember the good times, bad, happy times and sad and the lovely salt-of-the-earth people who lived out their lives there. It’s like going home and there’s no place like home.
Doris Bennett (nee Hassall)