Dear Have Your Say
Does anyone remember many years ago when there used to be a pub on every corner of the street in Miles Platting? The highlight of the week was Saturday night. There used to be a piano in all the pubs and always someone who could play it. The pianist did not get paid in cash but he got a couple of drinks. People would take turns standing by the piano and singing. A very popular song at the time was called The Millionaire.
Agnes McGeary

Dear Have Your Say
I have read your magazine, which I received from Alf Almond, a school chum of mine at Holland Street School in 1939-1940s, with great interest. My memories are of living in the shadows of the Bradford Road Gas Works where my father Eddie Davies was the manager for 30 years. He retired after 51 years service in 1954.
Keep up the good work!
Kevin Davies

Dear Have Your Say
My sister came last week, she brought her spec’s plus her magnifier and there we were, both trying our hardest to find out who was who, in the photos in Have Your Say. It’s nice to remember the good ole bad ole days. (Please find enclosed stamps to help pay towards postage.) God Bless.
A Aston.

Dear Have Your Say
Thank you for an excellent magazine, sent to me by my aunt. The article Happy Memories by Alf Almond certainly brought happy memories to me! I was born on Bradford Road and all the places he mentions were my playgrounds too. One of my friends was a girl called Doris Almond and I wonder if she and Alf are related. Just across from the Clay Hills was a building we always referred to as Joyce and Muriel. I must have been well into my teens before I realised it was actually called The Joynson Memorial! One of the less happy memories was having to queue at the gasworks for bags of coke in the bitter winter of 1947. We were supposed to be rationed to one bag each but my mum used to take my hair slide out, pull my hair over my face and send me back disguised as Veronica Lake! I don’t think we fooled anyone but I still managed to get an extra bag.

If any of the other girls I used to pal out with are around, I’d love to hear from them. Apart from Doris, there was Dianne Speakman who lived at the Fountain Pub, Valerie Marsden and Emily Gilder.
Pat Duncan (Nee Taylor)
See photo above from Alf, who is Doris’ brother. (Ed.)

Dear Have Your Say
I am so impressed with issue 5. It’s the best yet. What a lot of information! There are things in there I never knew about. I was born in a house on Hulme Hall Lane in 1934. We moved to Tripe Colony in 1938 until 1964 and I never knew A.V. Roe had a place there. You live and learn. I would like to add my thanks to Stella. I do not know her but she has given me a lot of pleasure with what she has done. Good luck in the future Stella.
Marian Ross (Nee Fox)

Dear Have Your Say
Below is part of a poem taught in 1943 by Miss Barlow in what was then Nelson Street School. I have often tried to remember the rest of the poem but without success. Two of my children are teachers but were unable to trace the origin of the poem. Is there anyone who can recall “The White Owl” and the poets name?
Ethel Connor (nee Leasley)

The White Owl
“Who stuffed that white owl ?” No one spoke in the shop.
The barber was busy and he Couldn’t stop. The customers Waiting their turn were all reading The Daily, the Herald, the Post,
Little heeding the young man Who blurted out such a blunt question.
Not one raised their head or even made a suggestion.
And the barber kept on shaving.