The Oldies Thread

[LEONARD]

I have memories of Abingdon Road. Florence Melly school was half-way up and during the war there was a fire station next to the school. my Dad was a fireman and was based in this station. I remember him taking me and my brother there on several occasions. After the war, the fire station was knocked down when they built the pre-fabs.

Happy memories of attending Flo Melly school, half way up Grandison Road, but 3 minutes away from our house on Abingdon.

Growing up in that part of Walton was lovely in the 60's & 70's.

 

[Methuselah]

Happy memories of attending Flo Melly school, half way up Grandison Road, but 3 minutes away from our house on Abingdon.

Growing up in that part of Walton was lovely in the 60's & 70's.

Have very happy memories of growing up in that area. Walton Hall Park was where we spent most of our time. Playing football, cricket. Fishing in the boating lake. Watching the shows on the bandstand. (1940's). In those days they used to mine sandstone and in the middle of the park there were large mounds of sandstone, probably about 10 or 15 feet high and probably 20 or 30 yards in length. There were two or three mines which seemed quite deep but were protected by steel fences around the top to keep kids like us out.
Earlier in the war they had put posts in the ground all over the park (to prevent German gliders landing in case of an invasion). They even had them all over the football pitches much to our annoyance. Later in the war they came and took them out.
Really pleased that it went on being a nice place to grow up. Have very happy memories of my childhood in spite of the war, rationing, blitz etc.,

 

[LEONARD]

Have very happy memories of growing up in that area. Walton Hall Park was where we spent most of our time. Playing football, cricket. Fishing in the boating lake. Watching the shows on the bandstand. (1940's). In those days they used to mine sandstone and in the middle of the park there were large mounds of sandstone, probably about 10 or 15 feet high and probably 20 or 30 yards in length. There were two or three mines which seemed quite deep but were protected by steel fences around the top to keep kids like us out.
Earlier in the war they had put posts in the ground all over the park (to prevent German gliders landing in case of an invasion). They even had them all over the football pitches much to our annoyance. Later in the war they came and took them out.
Really pleased that it went on being a nice place to grow up. Have very happy memories of my childhood in spite of the war, rationing, blitz etc.,

Keep those happy memories safe M.

Sadly, it is an area that you would not recognise now.

 

[Methuselah]

Keep those happy memories safe M.

Sadly, it is an area that you would not recognise now.

Leonard, sorry to hear that. I occasionally go into Google street view and have a look at the council house we used to live in. It was in the cul-de-sac on Walton Hall Ave, a couple of hundred yards from the girder bridge across Walton Hall Avenue on the East Lancs Road side of the bridge. I think most are privately owned now but all the houses and gardens have had a lot of work done on them and in 1940's context, looks quite posh!

 

[LEONARD]

Leonard, sorry to hear that. I occasionally go into Google street view and have a look at the council house we used to live in. It was in the cul-de-sac on Walton Hall Ave, a couple of hundred yards from the girder bridge across Walton Hall Avenue on the East Lancs Road side. I think most are privately owned now but all the houses and gardens have had a lot of work done on them and in 1940's context, looks quite posh!

A lot of my school mates were on Richard Kelly Drive.

We would spend the whole of the Summer holidays in Walton Hall Park.

Loved watching those model boats on the lake.

 

[summerisle]

Barbara Moore, a name not known to many (including me) died on Saturday. Who she you ask ? Well, she's the voice on :




She arranged both of these (as well as Coke's advert 'I want to teach the world to sing') :








The oo's and aah's you hear on songs were a forte of hers. She appeared on recordings by Hendrix, Dusty Springfield and Sandie Shaw.

The people who die every day, who have made some contribution to society (however slight), who pass unnoticed, must be quite a few. Hence I thought she deserves at least a little recognition. I'll leave it with :

 

[tommytowne]

Remember when you'd be out walking and you'd notice a car slowing down then the passenger window getting wound down and someone asking how do you get to so and so?
The feeling of achievement and a good deed done by helping a lost soul find their way.
Doesn't happen now thanks to satnav.

 

[summerisle]

I have now morphed into Stan. lol

 

[bigjonny]

I have now morphed into Stan. lol

“ I wasn’t planning to shove it down your gob live “ lol no one would write a line like that now.

 

[Joey66]

Could you see the kids of today making these .....we did the steering bolt always snapped going down a hill with a few of us on ...madness lol -

Then we would make another one.....lol

lol

 

[LEONARD]

Could you see the kids of today making these .....we did the steering bolt always snapped going down a hill with a few of us on ...madness lol -

Then we would make another one.....lol

lol
View attachment 138291

Love the local priest with the megaphone, keeping these lads in order.

 

[Eggs]

Have very happy memories of growing up in that area. Walton Hall Park was where we spent most of our time. Playing football, cricket. Fishing in the boating lake. Watching the shows on the bandstand. (1940's). In those days they used to mine sandstone and in the middle of the park there were large mounds of sandstone, probably about 10 or 15 feet high and probably 20 or 30 yards in length. There were two or three mines which seemed quite deep but were protected by steel fences around the top to keep kids like us out.
Earlier in the war they had put posts in the ground all over the park (to prevent German gliders landing in case of an invasion). They even had them all over the football pitches much to our annoyance. Later in the war they came and took them out.
Really pleased that it went on being a nice place to grow up. Have very happy memories of my childhood in spite of the war, rationing, blitz etc.,

….this could be you (must be linked to pic posted by @LEONARD , although not sure of the date (the park gates pic is 1924);

 

[Eggs]

….no computers.

 

[LEONARD]

View attachment 138296

….no computers.

Where's a social worker when you need one?

 

[LEONARD]

….this could be you (must be linked to pic posted by @LEONARD , although not sure of the date (the park gates pic is 1924);

View attachment 138294

View attachment 138295

I think this is the entrance just before the railway bridge by Richard Kelly drive.

The Park Keepers house on the right of the picture is still there.