Street Party
For the young people of today Street Party’s are an item they know very little about. For us “oldies” who were born in the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s street parties were part of our lives.
I was born on Bradford Road in Miles Platting, which was of course on a bus route so our street party’s were held in Gleden Street, which was at the back of our house next to the Gas Works. All the neighbours got together and put the tables and chairs out in the street and put what little food they could afford on the tables. They would then spend all day talking, singing and dancing with one another. As a very young person at that time, I thought the parties were fantastic. The best thing of course was the friendliness all the neighbours had with one another.
The reason for writing this story is because I now live in Shirley Avenue in Chadderton and as you can see we have ‘gone up steps here’. As we live in an Avenue maybe we should call them ‘Avenue parties’ instead, it sounds a little more posh’ does it not!
Around about eight years ago we started to have firework displays and a party on bonfire night in the Avenue. Now we have two each year, one on bonfire night and one during summertime. Just like the old days, everybody gets together and provides money for the food. This year when we had the party in the Avenue it absolutely threw it down with rain. Even this did not put the neighbours off, two marquees were put up and we sat in them eating, drinking and dancing, all afternoon and into the evening. Again the atmosphere was fantastic and all the neighbours were really enjoying the ‘Street Party’.
The most important thing, is the closeness of all the neighbours in the Avenue. Party’s certainly bring everyone together so I would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to all the neighbours in Shirley Avenue for all their hard work.
Come on all you readers of Have Your Say get your ‘Street Party’ going again where ever you live.