I have just been given some back copies of your magazine and they were an absolute joy to read.
My mother died when I was two weeks old (she was 28) so I was brought up by my grandma and aunty at 32 Albion Street, Miles Platting. Her name was Mrs Brooks and my aunt was Mrs Jackson. She had a son Donald, my cousin. I was christened at St. Luke’s Church.
Some names of people in the area that I remember are O’Garr’s, Joyce Sweeney and another family named Brooks but no relation. Another cousin of mine lived in Dale Street. Her name was Alice Boomer (nee Green), she had a daughter Joyce. I also had an aunt that lived in Lowe Street near Ernie Walker and Stan Wooley.
When my dad re-married some years later we lived in Pearson Street in a greengrocers shop and went to the Albert Memorial School. We then moved to Rochdale Road to a shop on the same row as the Balmoral Hotel.
I started work at 14 years of age in 1938, at Newton Iron Foundry in Vickers Street as an apprentice moulder. The foreman was Dick Owen who lived in Albion Street and had a daughter Olwen, I think. My uncle John was a foreman core-maker there too.
I also remember Joe Whitehead and his daughter Anne who lived in Albion Terrace and the two Mary Murphys who were crane drivers.
As soon as I was old enough I volunteered for the R.A.F.
I think I have bored you enough so I just want to say thank you for bringing back so many memories. I am now 82years old and my wife recently died. We were married for 52 years.
Stan Brooks
Hello Stan, We have something in common; I was born in the front room of 28 Albion Street but a few years after you left Albion Street.
Editor.
