Lemon crystals and Jam butties!
I have read my first "Have Your Say" magazine, issue 28, today sent to me from my sister May Snowden (nee Dickinson) who is 91 years old; both my husband and I enjoyed reading every page.
My name is Violet Collier (nee Dickinson) born 1926 at No 1 Coglan St. Miles Platting. My better half is Ernest Joseph Collier (Joe) born 1923 at 267 Hamilton St. Collyhurst. We were married at the Albert Memorial Church and we celebrated our Diamond Wedding in May. We have two sons David and Paul. When we retired twenty two years ago, we moved from Moston Lane East, to here in Rhyl.
During our childhood, Whit week was a lovely time with all the children in their new clothes. I was one of the Queen's on Whit Monday walking with St. Augustine's, Monsall. My mother worked her fingers to the bone taking in washing to pay for the privilege of seeing me a Queen. (No washing machines in those days).
My brother Norman had his first pair of long trousers age 14; we were a family of ten; nine girls and one boy. Saturday morning it was a trip with the pram, to Bradford Rd Gas works for a bag of coke, sometimes going to the C W S Biscuit factory, for a sixpenny bag of biscuits hoping to find a few chocolate or cream biscuits mixed in.
Paddy Dolan's coal yard was on the next corner to us, but the coal wagon itself used to weigh a ton but we didn't have far to push it to our back where we kept it near the garden. We had a big tree at the back, mother used to tie apples on it, lots of kid's used to come and ask could they have an apple off the tree, they never saw the cotton she tied them on with.
Our school holiday would be trips to the sand park near Willert Street Police Station or Queens Park with a few jam butties and bottle of water with a little lemon crystals to make it like real 'Lemonade'.
There was a place over the Albert Croft where we used to take an accumulator to be charged and bring one back home. I was given one without a holder once and the acid burnt a hole through to my vest.
The 53 bus route, we used to call it the Banana Route they came in Bunches. They used to say that if the driver couldn't see the bus in front, he was late.
Anyone remember the fair at the Albert croft at Easter time? We didn't need supermarkets, as every street seemed to have a corner shop. Our local shops were in Lodge Street, one small row had five shops; a Grocers, Butchers, Wool Shop, Cobblers and a Clothes shop. Across the way was the Greengrocers shop.
Was it the Empress on Oldham Road that had musical shows? We had lots of cinemas to choose from but can anyone remember Dickie Banks, my husband says it cost one and a half pennies if you got there before six o'clock or it would cost you two pennies (old money) after, I can't argue on that, I didn't go to that one. I do know it was tuppence at the playhouse and a penny at the pop.
We went dancing at Finnigans and Blackley Palais, that's where I met my better half and we're still dancing today but at a slower place!
We could go on all day reminiscing about years gone by, so I will just say "thank you" it's been a great pleasure reading your magazine.
PS. I hope the photograph is printable; I've carried it around in my purse for years.