Welcome To Manchester Stories.
Below Are Extracts From The Guestbook, E-Mails and the Forum
If you want to contact anyone below, check out the guestbook for their E-mail address
Christine, Friday night was Grab a Granny Night, because it was the end of the week and the lads went out on their own thinking they were God's gift, only thinking mind, and a lot of women used to go out with their mates to the Ritz, but the lads, thinking they, the women were desperate, yea right, were cruel, and used to call fridays Grab a Granny Night,
The Greyhound Chippy
Rezzanos cafe was more of a chippy it was called the Greyhound every Friday and Saturday people coming out of Belle Vue would go in there for pie and chips, there was a room you could eat in and if it was full you would eat yours on the way home, Johnie's Cafe on Chapel St, in Levenshulme also belonged to them. They also had an ice cream van I used to pal about with their daughter, many a free bag of chips I had off her mam and dad. I also used to pal out with Marion Day who lived on Mount Rd. I used to stay at her house. She had two brothers so we slept in the front room on a pull down, her Mam woudn't let you leave her house till you had a cup of tea and a jam butty. Her mam was a smashing woman, but very sadly she died when Marion was still in her teens. I also went in Sivs on Hyde Road facing the town hall on a Monday and Thursday night, which was club night, at the swimming baths just up the road, next to the wash house. Does anyone remember Marie, Big Woman in the baths who told you when to get in and when to get out, and Sam the little fella who I think was the caretaker? Don't recall any names that were mentioned though, I am a bit tired now or I could have told you a lot more, so cheerio marjorie
Marjorie 03/08/06
Many thanks Marjorie
Sunday 05/21/2006 5:45:03pm
Name: Ged Murphy
Brought Up? Gorton
Resident Now? Cheshire
Age: 72
Comments: Reading Marie Fernandez's comments brought back many memories
for me, I too often wondered when some one would mention the excursion and
troop trains that pulled up across Blackie Brook.The trains I understand
changed crew's there hence the reason for stopping,the troop trains could
be any time and any day,I only caught one but I had enough gum and chocolate
to last me weeks, the excursion trains were usually on a Saturday taking
families on thier holidays,we sang "Penny Down" and the money
started raining down,the people on the train thought it was hilarious to
see young kids scrambling in the dirt to pick the coins up.It was quite
rewarding and I was planning to chuck my paper round,half an hour on the
railway was much easier than lugging papers around the flats twice a day,
but my dad had other ideas he banned me from the railway and that was that.
I have many fond memories of Gorton in those days especially my time at
the swimming club and the Monastery Band,
about three years ago I went back to Gorton for a Monastery open day and
I was saddened by what I saw I walked down Crossley street and stood on
the spot where our house was and tried to see it as it was when I lived
there but try as I may I could not visualise it,people say you should never
go back as things are never the same,in this case it was certainly true.
Wednesday 05/17/2006 8:21:31pm
Name: Brian Pearce
Brought Up? Peel Green, Eccles
Resident Now? Hawarden
Age: 72
Comments: Further to my memory of "Der Wolf" U Boot at the end
of WWII. Has anyone else shouted encouragement to American sailors/servicemen
on their Liberty Ships and caught the oranges, apples, bananas and highly
valued chewing gum etc they used to throw to us kids on the side of the
Big Cut (the MSC) near Barton Bridge?
Boy could some of those sailors throw.MInd you we became expert catchers.
I often wonder how many made it in their National Sport Baseball when
they got back home after the War?
Wonderful how this Guest Book has awakened some long dorment memory cells.
Keep them coming folks. Terrific stuff.
Anyone reading this guest book ever go to "Godies C of E School"
by the way and got pasted by Pop Lewis one of the greatest and forward
thinking teachers I have had the fortune to be taught by?
Cheers,
Brian
In 1949, when I was 19, I had my first holiday at Butlins, Filey. The stage shows fascinated me and when I came home I looked for Theatres in Manchester.
The Hulme Playhouse was my first visit to the theatre; they put on plays performed by the Frank H. Fortescue players. I was amazed how this company could learn new lines and have scenery painted and present a new play every week. The title of the play I saw was ‘Laura’
Another theatre I found was the Hulme Hippodrome, on one of my visits to this variety theatre there was an act at the bottom of the bill which brought the house down, it was Hilda Baker.
Although not in Manchester was the Salford Hippodrome where I saw many variety shows. These smaller theatres had cheaper seats than the bigger ones in Manchester, in those days apprentices like myself did not come on full money until they were 21.
With best wishes,
Eric Jones 10/05/06
Hi Alan
I trust you are keeping well. I would just like to pass on some information
to your readers/browsers - which may be of interest to them. I was on the
Manchester Libraries Website regarding my schools and where I lived in Moss
Side, and I cannot tell you how thrilled I was with the response I received
from one of the Librarians there. She was kind enough to send me all the
information I needed via email, and then she sent me on copies of the maps
where my schools and house were by post. I was able to show my husband exactly
where my old house was. It was wonderful. I have enlarged them and will
laminate them this evening, and they will be there for years. I have sent
her an email thanking her, however, I will write a letter to her and send
her a thank you card. If you want to include this in your pages, please
feel free to do so, and you may also include my email address odriscolltricia@yahoo.com.
Regards
Patricia O'Driscoll 09/05/06
Hi Robert,
Thank you very much for the email, also the information
about the site www.manmate.co.uk, it has been great, I did as you said yesterday
Sunday, I put a message on the guestbook, and today Monday I have had two
replys, one from a
man that knows the family and he has sent me Junes.brothers address in manchester,
the other one is a lady who seems to remember the name and is going to check
it out and let me know. Robert is it also possible for me to put it in the
reunion section to. do you know if you can get onto the Electoralroll site
also Births .Deaths. Marrages. site in the UK. thank you very much for your
help
Cheerio for now
Allister Jackson WA 13/03/06
02/08/2006 11:20:03am
Name: George Pointon
Brought Up? West Gorton
Resident Now? Abbey Hey Age: 56
Comments: Janet Noble, I think that you mean the blue dye off Textile
Street, behind Brookhouse Flats. At the side was the Openshaw Brewery
which was demolished in the early sixties, we collected from the site
as many wooden beer barrels as we could for bonfire night and stowed them
away on the roof of the janitors shed at the ends of the blocks in Compton
House Flats. Unfortunately we couldn't leave well alone and made dens
in the wood using the paraffin lamps from the roadworks as lights inside.
We must have drove the locals mad as one night we climbed on the shed
to find all of the wood gone, removed by the council workmen. It didn't
deter us as we just started logging again, nobody could ruin our bommy
night.On the Saturday there was an organised Bonfire at the Speedway Stadium
and lo and behold all of our barrels and other gatherings were proudly
in situ waiting for the lightermans torch. I often wonder how many pedestrians
or drivers fell into the unlit diggings left blacked out because the little
red paraffin lamps had mysteriously disappeared. Who remembers saving
up for weeks in the Fireworks Club at the pot shop or local newsagents
(and buying as many penny bangers and rip-raps as your pockets could carry)totally
ignoring "The Fireworks Code".
George Pointon
Janet Noble
Brought Up? Manchester
Resident Now? Sarnia, Ontario. Canada
Age: 46
Comments: Great site and wonderful stories i lived off Clowes street (Gladstone
St) I remember the red dye canal as a kid we had a tin bath for 6 kids.
Loved going to Bellevue we were poor but had so much fun. Whit week walks
and May day were my favorite days. Bags of crisps with little blue packs
of salt in them we used to make our own lollies out of an old stick and
swirl it in the tar on the road wait for it to harden and lick it.
Its nice to hear all the old stories that bring back memories and places
forgotten.
Janet 04/02/06
Joy
Well, aren't you so very nice and helpful. Glad to have that Manch Eve
News web site and will also forward it to my sister...originally we are
both from Salford, and she went to Tootal Road....are you a Salfordite???
or should I say Salfordian???
Any interesting news about you. My sister was a very close friend of Albert
Finney when he went to Salford Grammar....and her first marriage was to
an Australian who attended Salford Tech.... then she divorced and came here
to live near me in America...married an American and lived near in Pittsburgh
for some time. Unfortunately (for me) they moved to California 15 years
ago, altho luckily we manage to see them once or twice a year...and will
see them when they visit here in May for the wedding of my eldest grand
daughter.
She also was a great friend of Michael Riley, brother of Harold...and one
of them came to live in California and they were in touch....I think it
was Michael and he went back to England.
Many years ago Albert Finey starred for some months in LUTHER, on Broadway
in New York City.....my sister wrote to him - didn't hear, and then several
months later he phoned her - and she was invited to spend time as his guest
in New York... at the time she wanted me to go too (one of my life's regrets
but I had 3 small children and no close family to watch them, and so I opted
not to go. She had a wonderful time with Albert and his staff...and found
him very down to earth and still in touch with his roots, and also very
humble about his celebrity status.
Thought you might find this of some interest.
I did receive 3 communications due to my message that I had put in Manchester
Guardian IN TOUCH....AND AM DELIGHTED. The three persons and I very well
remember each other and I am amazed at the one who remembers more about
me than I do myself, she has a genius memory. I have spoken to her on phone
for a couple of hours, and intend to get in touch with another friend whose
phone number was sent to me. One lives in Dorset and the other in London....and
the main contact who put me in touch lives in Lymm. I lost touch at the
end of WW2 - Since at Pendleton High the students were from all over the
county and a few from Salford, Broughton, and Stretford, so beyond attending
school, and altho some of us great friend, we did not see each other after
leaving school. I happened to be on a bus with one of my schoolmates before
I came to U.S.A. She was waiting to go to New Zealand to marry a WW2 flier....and
we did keep in touch all these years. I think however, she has only visited
Enland once since she left, this via Canada and supposed to come and see
us but had become ill on flight to Canada so we just spoke by phone. My
husband offered to take me to Canada but I declined to go. (another regret)
Well - I don't know your age and stage....but thank you for all your help....nice
hearing from you too.
luv/blessings/prayers
joy 12/03/05
Bryan Capes
Where are all you Mostonians & Blackleyites? Remember the dances at Harpurhey baths? I lived in Moston near Broadhurst fields from 1937-1950, great times were had at Moston Fields school & North Manchester Grammar. The scouts at St. Peters church paraded along Market St.every month,how proud we were. Anybody remember these times?
Audrey and David Graham, City/Country: Childers Queensland
Australia
Comments: What a find! Great site,brought back such wonderful memories.Loved
the cinema stories. My husband and I met while working at the Tatton cinema
Gatley ...Dave a projectionist ..myself an usherette..Remember too the Forum
and the ABC miners club in Northenden also the Coronation flea pit! The
likes of which I don't think we will see again.
Comments: My favoite place in Manchester was the Ritz Dance Hall. I loved
the music of the big bands,the revolving bandstand,but mostly, I remamber
the wonderful people. I enjoyed dancing in Ashton-Under-Lyne on Monday nights.
I was in the U.S. Air Force, and would like to hear from anyone who knew
me. I was in England from September, 1951 to April, 1954
Anne Duncan, Detroit Michigan
Comments: Hi, Great site. Does anyone remember the Garabaldi
pub in Abbey Hey? It was on Lees St. I remember having many a good
night there. I used to frequent the place in 1979. I remember the landlady,
Ruth and her husband Frank. At the weekenk they used have a disco. There
used to be character there called Johnny Rocko. He would sing and was comical
guy. Happy days..!
Many thanks to the webmaster for this site. It has brought back many happy
memories
Sheila Thompson (Nee Hall), City/Country: Edmonton, Alberta,
Canada. (Since 1971)
Comments: Hi Guys, This is a great site and brings back lots of memories.
I attended St.Willibrords, Clayton, M/cr. and lived in Homebury Drive, Clayton.
I would love to see some old pictures of this area, as our's got lost over
the years. Keep up the good work.
John D Morgan,City/Country: Pontypool, SE Wales
Comments: Born St Mary's Manchester, Oct 1936 went to Armitage Street school
West Gorton/Ardwick , then Thomas Street West Gorton. plus others as family
moved about a lot. Lived in Brooke House flats West Gorton. Pals with Tony
Sinacola, Frankie Hart( he married Pat Harrison) amongst others, Where is
Mavis Slater and brother John?ex Hartland Gardens, west Gorton.
Age: 61-70
Peter Jones, Manchester,
Comments: Does anyone remember at Wright Robinson High
School the games teachers making us run round
the stone wall and giving stick to any lads
that came near the back?
Teddy Knott, Manchester.
Belle Vue Aces speedway team of 1963 was one of the best in their history, that season was one of success and tragedy, Peter Craven died from injuries he sustained at Edinburgh in September of that year when he swerved to avoid a fallen rider (George Hunter of Edinburgh Monarchs) Dent Oliver was the team manager at the time and only 12 months earlier Peter had won The World Crown at Wembley. See the photo
Sent in from Mary Howerth by E-mail
Hi,
I was very interested to see the photograph on your Speedway page. I knew
Peter Craven & Dick Fisher very well.
I actually had a ride round the track, on the back of Dick Fisher's bike.
I was in Johnnie's Marching Girls, 1954/55. Johnnie Hoskins formed us.
We were kind of mascots for the Aces. We marched at the beginning, the
inteval, and right round the track at the end. We wore very short pleated
skirts Red tops with gold buttons all down the front, & epulates on
the shoulders. A small cap with the speedway colours on it, and an ace
on the front. Also white boots. I was also in The Storming Of Quebec.
A show on the firework island. All the ATC Lads who did the track were
in it. And hundreds of others. From mostly Gorton.
I was devastated when Peter was killed. He was the best rider I ever saw.
He had a mop of red curly hair. He was a lovely person.
Well I hope you like that bit of information about the Speedway.
Best Wishes.
Mary.
Hi, Great site. Does anyone remember the Garabaldi pub in
Abbey Hey? It was on Lees St. I remember having many a good night there.
I used to frequent the place in 1979. I remember the landlady, Ruth and
her husband Frank. At the weekenk they used have a disco. There used to
be character there called Johnny Rocko. He would sing and was comical guy.
Happy days..!
Many thanks to the webmaster for this site. It has brought back many happy
memories
Age: 41-50
Peter Jones, Manchester
Comments: Does anyone remember at Wright Robinson High
School the games teachers making us run round
the stone wall and giving stick to any lads
that came near the back?
Name: Joanne, Manchester, England
Comments: I really enjoyed looking at this website
especally the walk down memory lane. I was
surprised to find out that John Thaw was from
Gorton.
Ron maguire City/Country: ipswich qld australia
Comments: great site i used to run the vic on hyde road, also worked at
elis,s pies many years ago. good luck with the site its a good way of
saying hello.regards ron
Age: 61-70
Ann Callaby City/Country: Norfolk UK
Comments: Thanks for the opportunity to maybe find a friend of a friend
who lives in Perth Western Australia. Joyce Melia (and her husband John)
would dearly like to make contact with JOYCE ROSS (maiden name).They all
lived in Ardwick in the 50's and 60's.I too, come from Ardwick although
I left in 1958 and moved finishing up in Burnage from where I emmigrated
to Oz. Back in the UK for over 25 years now although regularly still visit
parents (Frank and Frances Cutts)and siblings (Frank & Lillian Cutts)
in Oz.
Great site, brings back a lot of happy memories.
Age: 51-60
If you would like any photos or other material included on this site, please contact me at the address below.
Don't forget to sign the Guestbook and leave a message on the message board for old friends to look at.
If you would like to contact me for any reason concerning this site, please use this e-mail address: webmaster@manmates.co.uk
Updated: 22/05/2006
www.manmates.co.uk Don't forget to sign the guestbook
Contact: Webmaster@manmates.co.uk
© copyright, no image can be reproduced or copied without the owners consent