Old friends and neighbours
Dear Have your Say
I was born in Collyhurst in 1954, moving to council overspill estates on Langley and then Darnhill in my early childhood.
My Dad, who died 3-years ago, wrote a journal of his life and some of his favourite memories are of his own early years in Collyhurst. I would like to give you some extracts from the childhood era of his journal, in the hope of jogging some memories and hearing whether anyone remembers my Dad, Hughie Chadwick.
Hughie was born in December 1927 at 28 Elizabeth Ann Street. He had a short stay at a house in Newton Heath before the family were moved back to a cockroach infested house on Mary Ann Street. The infestation was so bad that they were soon re-housed again to Eliza Ann Street. He recalls the sound of the 'knocker up man' waking the mill workers by tapping a long pole against their bedroom windows. He talks of Marco Rea and Tony Trulio, Italian people, who were interned to the Isle of Man at the outbreak of war. He wondered whether they ever became friends in the Isle Of Man. Does anyone know?
Dad's best friend in childhood appears to have been 'Dink' Towers. Dad went to Gorton Street elementary school and then, I believe, St Oswald's. He also talks of 'Spud' Murphy whose family came over from Dublin. Spud was a catholic but could not get into St Pat's as there wasn't room. He therefore had to go to St Oswald's and this might have caused quite a stir in those days.
At the start of the war Dad's gang set up the 'CKLDV' (Collyhurst Kids Local Defence Volunteers) Unofficial! Apparently this was the kids back up to the grown-ups Local Defence Volunteers (which became the Home Guard). Dink, Spud and my Dad were founder members.
He talks of the 'Big Lads' of those days. Joe Atkins, Joe Holland, Tommy Clayton, Ernie Jetson, Eddie Phillips. He describes them as "pals together" of whom only one survived the war. He says the word 'pal' meant a lot in those days. Joe Atkins was Dad's favourite. He became 'Tommy' Atkins when he went to war and I believe he was that sole survivor.
Eddie Phillips became a hero when my Dad was having a fight with a classmate called 'Skedge' Beckett. Dad was on top when Skedge's older brother Tommy, the 'cock of the school' separated them and started beating my Dad up. At this point Eddie Phillips took his life into his hands by dragging Tommy off my Dad. He was about to get a pasting from Tommy Beckett when a teacher came out. Eddie's courage in standing up to a bully lived with my Dad for the rest of his life, and he records that Eddie died at sea in 1940.
I could go on all day but I know you will be pushed for space. However, I do sincerely hope you have room for the above, and that someone (apart from my Mam, an avid reader herself), somewhere will remember my Dad.
Dear all
I do love to read Have Your Say magazine, they bring back happy memories of when I lived in Manchester.
I wonder, do any of your older readers remember Churnet Street, Collyhurst? I lived in St. Oswald Grove and our house backed on to those in Churnet Street. At the top of Churnet Street there was a Acme Tin Stamping Co. factory (if I remember rightly). One evening in the 1920s it caught fire and we all ran out to look at it. I would only be very young at the time, I was born in 1919. Can anyone tell me any more about it?
Thanks once again for your interesting magazines.
Dear Sir/Madam
I wish to receive your magazine. I was born in Hannah Street, Collyhurst in 1938 and went to St. Jimmy's school. My sister's first job was at Mays Pawn Shop on Rochdale Rd. My maiden name was Hughes my mother was called Eva and my father Tommy.
P. S. I am seeking a copy of Manchester music makers by Phil Moss will buy and pay all expenses
Dear Team Members
Herewith membership fee plus small donation. I look forward to copy of Have Your Say issue 28. I have already recognised a face and a name from my Manchester past, in issue 26 and 27.
January 1921, born in Cowan Street (off Polland Street East.) Schools St Phillip Bradford Road and Newton Heath Technical.
Work Mather and Platt Ltd and Hardman and Holden. Army Service 8th Manchester 1939-1945
Dear all
I am enclosing cheque for my magazine subscription plus a donation to funds, please note for the mailing address, that sadly my wife Anita died last August. Also would you mind putting me in touch with Mr. John Fenton who was my wife Anita's cousin, a letter from him in issue 27 page 16. I would like to contact him or him contact me, phone or write, also anyone who remembers Anita (nee Fenton) or myself John Green from Dale Street or Lodge Street area's of Miles Platting, from where we both lived in our courting days. Anita in Dale Street, myself in Lodge Street.
Dear Maggi and Team
Thank you for my current issue of Manchester's best Magazine. There is quite a lot of reference to Corpus Christi, and this set my memory buds into flower; For I was born in the shadow of this great church, at 27 Lime Street on June 8th 1928.
I attended the school from 4 to 14 years of age. Was an altar Boy from 7 to 13 yrs old. Monitor to Mr Ambrose Phillips, Headmaster. So as you see I was a few years ahead of your two letter writers - George Lightbowne and Sheila McCall. I had an elder sister Mary and a brother Tom, also a young brother Joe. We all attended Corpus Christi School.
Quite a few names come to mind from School Days; I wonder how many of them are reading Have Your Say? Joe Greenhalgh, Frank Barlow, Lawrence Mannion, Peter Kelly, Bernard Lyons, James Jordan, Frank Rielly, Arthur Griffiths, George Connor, John Evans, Harry Dalton and Terence Gorman.
There were many families with two or three siblings attending school at the same time, but the War and Evacuation changed it all. Corpus Christi was one of the last schools to be evacuated and we all finished up in the far reaches of Hazel Grove. Within weeks it was realized that Belle Vue was on the Local tram Service, so it soon become the thing to get back to Manchester, which many of the boys did. Unfortunately only to get home and suffer the Blitz. But that is another story for another time, to raise in the memory cells.
Hello
Both my parents were born and lived in Ancoats for all of their early lives. My mother Emily Williams and her sisters Eileen, Ellen and brother Joe lived with her grandparents who were called Ned and Emma Butterworth. Emma used to sell coal and ran (though not owned) several coal yards in the area. Canning Street was mentioned sometimes, and Eileen, Emily (my mother) and Ellen all worked in various coal yards, Kemp Street, New Allen Street and others. My mother was born in Back Grey Street.
My father's family were called Sale, six brothers and one sister they lived in Carruthers Street. My father's name was James (known as Jim to others) but James to the family!) He went into the Merchant Navy in about 1940/41. Sadly my parents are no longer with us.
I have a brother Michael who lives in Middleton and a sister Elaine who lives in Australia. I send the magazine on to her, usually with highlighted bits that we'll both recognize. We were all born in Back Grey Street, then went to live in Naylor Street from about 1953 until about 1962. They and both sets of grandparents eventually moved to live on Langley in the 1960's.
Thanks you for your continued work on the magazine, it really is a great pleasure to read.
Dear Have your Say
Thank you for the back copies of your super magazine. I was interested in letters from even place I don't know about. I do know Brenda Woodruff and in her letter in issue 26, she said she would like to hear from someone who remembered her. I was a pal of her brother Billy. Also in issue 23 the picture of St. Luke's is one of her neighbours Stan Pennington who also lived in Clara Street.
Thank You again for the pleasure your magazines gave me.
Dear Have Your Say
I was brought up in Collyhurst Flats, Northern Drive. I went to Saint Edmund's School and Church.
It was a lovely church and never should have been demolished. In Monsall Street opposite the boys school was 'Dillons Holy shop' where you could buy lovely Rosary Beads, Holy Pictures, Medals and of course the Universe Catholic newspaper. Also there was a Public House called Our House. On Sundays the people came in droves along Monsall Street to church. As well as Dillons, other shops I remember were Bagshaws greengrocers and Baileys grocers. In Have Your Say issue 27 the (Worswick Family) I knew well Anne, Catherine and Stella as my Auntie (Mary Crolla) lived at 58 Southern Drive.
Thornton Street was nice with all the shops. Wilkinson's chip shop (his name was Harry) if you did not behave in the shop or tried to put your hands on the counter he would get the 'Hot Pudding' tins and burn your hand!! He would say I bet that made you jump! Also was the Wool shop, sweet shop and Duckworth's which had lovely clothes. If anybody had a new baby they bought the babywear from there! I also remember Fanny Rayner's and a lovely confectioners that sold lovely cream cakes and pies.
Everyone knew everyone those days. Collyhurst was a lovely place to live. In Northern Drive where I lived I used to play with a girls called Margaret Moore, Teresa Caver, Sheila Griffiths, Maureen Hodgkinson, Rita Willis, Jean Theobold, Irene Gill, Pauline Kilroy, Joyce Bankcroft, Pat Doran, Ann Ingham, and Mary Morrison.
Those were the days, happy days!!