a selection from your letters

Dear Have Your Say
It was great to read the letter from Pat Duncan (nee Taylor) Issue six. Yes I am the sister of Alf Almond, the youngest of a family of six children, who were brought up in a two up two down on Bradford Road.

I haven’t seen Pat since the early 50s, when we had great times, especially at Belle Vue where we‘d go dancing, watching Speedway, and of course walking round the zoo.
The photograph of the four Aces that was printed in issue six was in actual fact, one I sent to Alf when he was serving in the Royal Navy.
Through your magazine I have been able to get in touch with Pat Duncan. Keep up the good work.
Doris Lumley (Almond)

Dear Have Your Say
Thank You for sending me issue six of Have Your Say.
I was stunned to see the photo of a very young me having a bad hair day, with Brenda McKechnie, Doris Almond and Emily Gilder. I think it must have been one whit week.

Anyway thanks again and I enclose a cheque for £5 to cover cost of postage for future editions.
Pat Duncan.

Dear Editor
Many thanks for the copy of issue six you sent me. I enjoyed reading it as it brought back memories of my time before the war when I lived there. I was born in Steel Street and also lived in Wrayby Street, some of the names I can recall from that area are: Blackwell’s,Barrowclough’s, Barton’s, Cantello’s, Rielly’s and the Thomson’s.

After the shops and houses on the Collyhurst side of Queens Road had been demolished, we played cowboys and indians, the land was our plains, used to go “raiding” against the lads from the flats, if they’d invaded our area, throwing stones at each other, (Still got the scars)

Summer seemed so long then, what with the whit walks, Easter day out with the Albert Memorial to the Clough or Heaton Park. Milk and buns provided, or just sat on the edgings popping pitch bubbles. Saturday at the Penny Pop to watch Flash Gordon or Hopalong Cassidy. Happy times, or were they? Time softens many memories. Wishing you every success in the future, hope these stamps will help you out.
Cliff Morris.

Dear Sir or Madam
I picked up a copy (as I usually do) from St. Marks School. Reading of other peoples memories brought it all back to me, some of their memories are also mine, it was wonderfully nostalgic.

Do any of your readers remember going to school dinners in the holidays? If your family were on low income, you had to go for the free dinner also it got you from under your mothers feet for an hour or two!
Remember the ragbone man where you swapped old clothes for a balloon?
I have fond memories of my mum, dad and friends going to the Empress Bingo and popping into the Ram for a pint or two, my mum used to say my dad lived at the Ram, he would bring us all crisps back, soaked with beer but I can still smell those packets to this day.

The times of the power cuts, we’d all sit at the table where my gran Charlotte Corry (Does anyone remember her) would tell us stories of when she was young in the “olden” days. Now I have old days I’m glad to say. To repeat to my children and my grandson when he’s older.

Thank you to all those readers and their memories for unlocking mine. Keep ‘em coming.As well as being nostalgic your mag is very informative, my mum and sister love it! They’ve asked me to get them a copy next time. Thank you all very much, keep up the good work won’t you?
Mrs Carol Bond. (nee Dixon)
PS.My gran lived on Berkshire Road, next to the wash-house. She was a very popular and well liked lady.

Dear Sir
I would like to be included on your mailing list for Have Your Say the local magazine for Ancoats, Collyhurst and Miles Platting. Having been born in Miles Platting and living there for thirty years I’m very interested in the area. By the way a friend in Canada told me about the magazine!
Yours Sincerely Florence Matthews Late of 21 Padstow Street Miles Platting.

Dear Have Your Say
In reply to a letter published in issue No. 6 “Your Shout” asking if anybody knew the name of the poet who wrote ‘The White Owl’.

The correct title is the ‘Owl Critic’ and was written by J F Fields it can be found in the Penguin book of poetry-A choice of comic and curious verse edited by J M Cohen. The letter I am referring to was from Ethel Connor (Nee Leasley) whom I recall from Miss Barlows class 1943, I too was in the same class.

I hope this information will help Ethel in her search for a copy.

I would write the poem out in it’s entirety but it being a longish poem, would take me too long a time. So I thought mentioning the above book would probably give Ethel as much pleasure as I have had whilst reading it.
Yours Faithfully,
Thelma Stewart.

Dear Alf
Enclosed a few stamps, could we offer a suggestion? A page in the magazine, “Where are you now”, for people to try to contact old friends. Kindest regards.
Helen and Bert Eyres.

Dear Kathryn,
Thank You so much for locating some back copies of the mag, they will make a few people very happy. Please accept enclosed cheque to help with your expenses.

Very Best wishes for your continuing. Cheers.
Jack Fairclough.

Dear Have Your Say
I am writing with regards to your article by Alan Britner. Page 8 Issue 7.
The photo is not of the houses in Joynson street, as none of the fronts of the houses numbers 68-80 were blown out (the photo looks more like Energy Street) also none of the houses on Hulme Hall Lane which backed onto these were blown out either.

The bomb which exploded was a 5oolb bomb which landed in the entry between the two rows of houses. The damage was all at the back of houses numbers 72 & 74 and on Hulme Hall Lane.
I can also say that the one person to die was a chap riding along Hulme Hall Lane on a bicycle when he was struck by a door which was blown off when the bomb exploded.

This is first hand information as my family and I and a neighbour were under the table when this exploded. The blast blew out all the windows and doors of the odd numbered houses numbers 69-81 as well as the even numbers 68-80 The only windows not blown out were one with lead on them.

When the all-clear sounded we got out from under the table. The siren sounded again and my father who was an air-raid warden took us all to the shelters on the colony croft. He then returned to keep an eye on the houses and help check for any people who may have been trapped, and to stop looters.

I also remember as if it were yesterday hearing planes flying overhead, the bombs exploding and seeing fires over towards Manchester town centre. These could clearly be seen. All this happened on December 20th 1940. That’s 60yrs ago. Each night after this we made sure we went to the shelters.

I hope this will correct the comments of Alan Britner. Yours Faithfully Albert Fox formally of 71 Joynson Street.

Well spotted Albert! The Photo we used was Energy Street

Dear Sir or Madam
Having had a copy of your magazine sent to me from my sister who lives in Llandudno. I would like to ask if it’s possible for me to obtain the back copies and also future ones.
Having lived on Bradford Road, Ancoats for part of our lives, until 1954, reading it brought back a lot of memories of our younger days. Thanking you and hope you will oblige me.
Mrs G Ennis. (Stamps towards postage)

Dear Sirs
I recently chanced on a copy of Have Your Say magazine and found it a most interesting read. I have enclosed a copy of an article I composed. Perhaps your readers may enjoy and possibly, remember some of its contents.
John Morris.

See back cover: Ed.

The Have Your Say team would like to Thank all readers who sent in donations and postage stamps, they are always appreciated.