Please ...any help from you elder statesmen out their who can remember CHARLIE MANNING worked at STEEL PEACH & TOZER up to 1950s or his brother FRED MANNING a drinker.

OR Charlie's son DES MANNING ( Firth Park & played soccer for Sheffield schoolboys until outbreak of WW2 then RAF gunner in Wellingtons / Mitchell bombers circa 1944)

Both Lived Rotherham & at 24 Tipton st with twins Brenda & Sylvia

Being quite "Handy"Charlie Manning had several run ins with the Mooney's who tried most unsuccessfuly to recruit him. & Tales of bare knuckle boxing when the fair came to town

Please do let me know if you remember & could you ask the elders too ......Im researching and on the hunt for stories & a good photo archive

I have put a note on the sheffield gang wars article for you.

cheers pop T

Hi Pop T !
Any chance of a copy of that photo of Charlie Manning
and Elsie.
Cheers
Mick - another of his grandsons

Did Charlie Manning live near The Bath Hotel off Glossop Road?
Did his son 'Kipper' run a racing game stall in Skegness ?

If so I have a photograph of Charlie and Elsie Manning and you are welcome to have a copy.

The photograph is in Sheffield and I am currently in New Zealand but will be coming back to Sheffield soon for awhile.

Is there any way I can contact you?

Charlie didn't have a son called 'kipper'
A mate maybe - but sounds as if it ain't the right Charlie Muss Manning
to me. But thanks anyway for the interesting info about the 'wars'

Mick

Well Mike I'm back to square one with the photographs. I have one picture with Charlie? and son standing in a group.

I would love to verify who they are and when I return to Sheffield i intend to get to know.

I can contact other people on the photograph who will know.

It would seem odds against that there were two Charlie's married to two Elsies and he being an ex bare knuckle fighter in Sheffield ?

I have to take your word on this at this time but I'll get back to you if I find out anything as I feel this is part of Sheffield History and important to record.

Tony Mooney, a descendant of the famous family who grew up on Parson Cross, was until recently, the headteacher of a very exclusive catholic boys school somewhere down south.

i knew a manning family who lived on percy street at neepsend. i know one of the daughters was called gloria and alan was the son, i didn't know the name of thier parents.
my grandfather was called john wheywell, and his brother was called george, whos nickname was ganner. he was mentioned in the sheffield gang wars book. and was part of the park gang so i gather

were the Mooneys the same as the cellar grate gangs?
who used to go down one grate and come up several houses later, the walls of the cellars being knocked thru.

I know Brian Mooney . He is quite old now. A lovely guy. I'm not sure how he is related but know he is related.

Bonny - I also know Brian - we lost contact when his friend, Peter Dixon (my second cousin) died a few years ago, although we still get Christmas Card from him and Vereena.

like you said - great, lovely man - had some very happy times in Mr Kites and superb parties back at the house

I was at a family party not long ago and was given a book by my sister which contained a couple of poems that Brian had written

His mother was called Dolly - dont know if that helps - the Mooney Gang thing was never discussed as far as I remember, though there probably was a connection.

Originally posted by docmel
Bonny - I also know Brian - we lost contact when his friend, Peter Dixon (my second cousin) died a few years ago, although we still get Christmas Card from him and Vereena.

like you said - great, lovely man - had some very happy times in Mr Kites and superb parties back at the house

I was at a family party not long ago and was given a book by my sister which contained a couple of poems that Brian had written

His mother was called Dolly - dont know if that helps - the Mooney Gang thing was never discussed as far as I remember, though there probably was a connection.

Blimey, I have a book of his poems too! He did talk to me about being related to the gang, so know he was.

I must get in touch with him. I met him through strange circumstances as I am a lot younger than him (through my hubby). Reading your thread made me realise I must try and contact him to say hello.

Hola bonny, Interesting to read that you know Brian M. I was shocked to read your reference to him as being 'quite old', puts me in the same catagory. I didn't know he wrote poetry, that's new. When you see him again, ask him if he remembers Barney Cummings, or Alan Angus.

my grandfather say's his Father Thomas Ryan was a member of mooney gang he was from Dublin.
They lived at Pheasant Yard Neepsend in the mid 1920's
does anyone know if this is true???

Originally posted by Gingerbarf
my grandfather say's his Father Thomas Ryan was a member of mooney gang he was from Dublin.
They lived at Pheasant Yard Neepsend in the mid 1920's
does anyone know if this is true???

Did the Pheasant Yard at Neepsend have a woman called Big Aida?

My Dad keeps banging on about some woman called Big Aida who lived/worked at Neepsend when he was young :shocked:

Originally posted by Rich
Did the Pheasant Yard at Neepsend have a woman called Big Aida?

My Dad keeps banging on about some woman called Big Aida who lived/worked at Neepsend when he was young :shocked:

Rich - ask your Dad is that would haev been Aida Hare or O'Hare - my grandmothers sister was a big mate of a woman called Aida who lived down Neepsend. I remember meeting her a couple of time when I was a liittle kid - very loud and brash I think - I am sure she kept a pub down there at one time

Originally posted by katrina
i knew a manning family who lived on percy street at neepsend. i know one of the daughters was called gloria and alan was the son, i didn't know the name of thier parents.
my grandfather was called john wheywell, and his brother was called george, whos nickname was ganner. he was mentioned in the sheffield gang wars book. and was part of the park gang so i gather

My Grandpa was George Wheywell, so we're related!
When my cousins and I were growing up we knew nothing of the Gang Wars, or its' legend.
When I read the Gang Wars book as an adult, it was shocking to see the depiction of my grandpa.

I just thought he was cool in his bespoke suit, trilby and Dealer boots - not like anybody elses Grandpa!

Seraphina
tell us more !
He surely has to be the most scariest character in the Gang Wars book

What would you like to know?
His childhood, Young (Gang Wars) George, Middle-aged (Granville Lane) George, or Kindly, Benign Grapndpa George.

He lived to be 78ish (no one knew for sure - including George) so there are LOTS of stories.

well did he mellow in old age or did he retain an air of menace?
When did he retire from gang activities -if ever?
Did he ever go legit and get a 'proper' job?
I always felt that JB Beans book 'Sheffield Gang Wars' was left slightly unfinished when they had been broken up by the Flying Squad. These men must still have been around and relativley young in the 1930s and I always wondered what became of them.

My Grandfather was born on West Bar in 1910 and kept promising to reveal all his stories re the Gang Wars to me. He never did + died in 1986
so its over to you.............................

Beans book is a snapshot and my family have always disputed some of the facts, but in the absense of evidence I can't confirm or deny.
George and his siblings lost their mother when they were very small (1905(ish). In those days, or course, there wasn't the welfare state as we know it, so they brought themselves up, really. Which might explain a lifetime of reprobation!

My family's link with that time is getting weaker, but I am determined to catologue their anocotes for prosterity. So, as I check my facts, I'll get back to you.

Fascinating stuff.....
So was JP Beans book based on hearsay and rumour or face to face interviews with the main participants?

Originally posted by katrina
i knew a manning family who lived on percy street at neepsend. i know one of the daughters was called gloria and alan was the son, i didn't know the name of thier parents.
my grandfather was called john wheywell, and his brother was called george, whos nickname was ganner. he was mentioned in the sheffield gang wars book. and was part of the park gang so i gather

The othe daughter was called Carol. My niece is married to one of the decendants of the Moony's When I get round to it i will ask him if he knows anything about the Manning's or the past history of the Mooney gang.

The Mannings mentioned by Pitmoorboy and Katrina may be related to my grandad Charlie Muss Manning who worked at Steel Peach Toser among others 1918 - 1950's .

He was married to Elsie (nee Bainbridge) and had three kids Charles Desmond ('mitch'), Brenda and Sylvia (she had a friend called Helen Carr) . Charle had a parrot called popeye and a bull terrier dog called Judy. They lived at Brightside, Tipton St.

Charlie Manning's sister was called Nellie who married a man callled Cyril Reader and lived in a council house in Daffodil Rd with daughter Audrey. There were other brothers of Charlie too: Fred had a pub Grt Eastern in New Brighton and he and wife Laura had a pet monkey. Gordon - don't know much about him - he played piano in local pubs I think. Two sons - one called Brian)

As I've said before a while back Charlie was an RFA corporal and WW1 veteran and a bare knuckle fighter in his youth. He was involved with the Mooney gang wars in the sense they wanted to recruit him to work with them as a heavy - or prize fight for them. But Charlie had none of it, and had several 'do's' in pubyards were he proved his point to the gang heavies. Although he sometimes went down to New Brighton to sort out pub trouble for brother Fred.

Jog any memories? mick@mickandbrita.demon.co.uk

Another snippet of information re Charlie Manning is that they had his brother in law (much older than him) John Salmon 'Uncle Johnny' living with them. He was an ex-miner and had been a sweeper upper at a local steel factory before he retired - the same one as Charlie worked in I think. He was a small man with a twinkle in his eye, we still have assorted cutlery he had swept up off the factory floor!

I grew up in the late 80s in a pub called the Meadow Street Hotel on meadow street in Netherthorpe! I used to talk to an 80 yr old man called Ted who said that one of the Mooneys used to live in one of the terraced houses directly opposite the pub itself. These houses are no longer standing and there is only a large grassy mound in their place.
Ted said that they used to drink in the meadow most nights and were feared by all who drank there.
He said that they used to sit in the corner of the tap room just to the right of the fireplace so they could see out of the window who was coming in the entrance!
I really wish i had took more notice of him but i was only about 11 at the time.
My mother knows more about this than me so i will ask her about it and re post!!!
Baz

Hi my name is rebecca louise mooney great grand daughter of george mooney grand daughter of terrance mooney my uncle and aunt are brendan and maria as someone was asking on here lasy year only just had a browse on this sight couldnt believe the interest in all this would like some answers myself x

The Mannings mentioned by Pitmoorboy and Katrina may be related to my grandad Charlie Muss Manning who worked at Steel Peach Toser among others 1918 - 1950's .

He was married to Elsie (nee Bainbridge) and had three kids Charles Desmond ('mitch'), Brenda and Sylvia (she had a friend called Helen Carr) . Charle had a parrot called popeye and a bull terrier dog called Judy. They lived at Brightside, Tipton St.

Charlie Manning's sister was called Nellie who married a man callled Cyril Reader and lived in a council house in Daffodil Rd with daughter Audrey. There were other brothers of Charlie too: Fred had a pub Grt Eastern in New Brighton and he and wife Laura had a pet monkey. Gordon - don't know much about him - he played piano in local pubs I think. Two sons - one called Brian)

As I've said before a while back Charlie was an RFA corporal and WW1 veteran and a bare knuckle fighter in his youth. He was involved with the Mooney gang wars in the sense they wanted to recruit him to work with them as a heavy - or prize fight for them. But Charlie had none of it, and had several 'do's' in pubyards were he proved his point to the gang heavies. Although he sometimes went down to New Brighton to sort out pub trouble for brother Fred.

Jog any memories? mick@mickandbrita.demon.co.uk

Do these sound right,

1911 census.
Percy 45
Emma 38 wife
Florence 20
Charles 17
Frederick 14
Reginald 11
Doris 9
Gordon 4

There is a film here.

Sean Bean = George Mooney
Mark Hudson = Sam Garvin
Michael Palin = Irwin Mitchell
Dominic West = Sillitoe

Any more suggestions?????

The first foreman I had back in the 50's apparantly used to be a ballroom dancer but hung out in some of the same places as the "gangs".

Used to tell us stories of fights in the snooker halls with balls flying everywhere

Is there a connection here to the Mooney who ran the Chez Brion coffee bar in Broomhill early 60's?

Is there a connection here to the Mooney who ran the Chez Brion coffee bar in Broomhill early 60's?

That was Brian Mooney. He's mentioned earlier in this thread. He later had Mr Kytes for many years.
The Chez Brion was a chinese takeaway for many years, probably still is.
The Ballustrade on the stairs at the back of the shop has musical notes, C(hez) and B(rion).
He died a couple of years ago.
I'm not sure if his brother Jimmy is still around, I hope so, a real character, always had a good tale to tell.

I used to go in the Chez Brion coffee bar in the 60's. Knew the Barista real well, Went out with her a couple of times. Her name was Jane Eyre believe it or not.

I used to go in the Chez Brion coffee bar in the 60's. Knew the Barista real well, Went out with her a couple of times. Her name was Jane Eyre believe it or not.

Jane was quite a strong minded girl as I recall. She married Paul Hurt, who died quite young. I've not seen her for about 40 years.
I think she lived at commonside somewhere.
She worked at the bookies at commonside I think.

Jane and her brother Graham lived up Crookes when they were younger. I remember some wild parties at their folks house :-)

Jane was quite a strong minded girl as I recall. She married Paul Hurt, who died quite young. ... From BMD records, a Jane Eyre married a Peter Hurt in Sheffield in Apr-Jun 1969. A Peter Hurt died aged 36 in Sheffield in Jan-Mar 1983.

I seem to remember meeting a Dolly Mooney with her husband Jack.

I believe she was a daughter of George Mooney.

Am I right? PopT

Hi my name is rebecca louise mooney great grand daughter of george mooney grand daughter of terrance mooney my uncle and aunt are brendan and maria as someone was asking on here lasy year only just had a browse on this sight couldnt believe the interest in all this would like some answers myself x

Hi there

i grew up with gillian mooney...knew terrence he was a big friend of my godmothers...knew brendan and maria as well ..also knew gillians grandma and..aunty kitty ...if i can tell you anything let me know