anyone recall the main gates to the park being stolen , did they get them back?

Sadly, no. In fact they were gone for a while before anybody noticed! I think there was some discussion about the missing gates in one of the Weston Park threads a while ago.

When was that , what side , Winter St or the Childrens hospital side ?

The ornamental gates opposite the children's hospital, at the town end of the park next to the university. It must be over 10 years ago now. There was a lot of building work being done on the university building next to the park, and the builders were using the park for access, with the gates wide open. So there were lots of lorries, trucks and workmen about, so I suppose one more truck and some workmen would have gone unnoticed.