Did anyone grow on Parkhill Flats in the 70's,80's have any memories of the weird and wonderful characters on there, i.e. Jog me memory of any events and people (Characters) and bring back the fun as a young Lad growing up on there..Park Lad!

Mexican Des?

bravest man on park hill . the rent man.

After Rolo my dad got the job of caretaking super for Hyde Park and Park hill, boy did he have some stories to tell. I used to go down there when I had free time and chat with the caretakers, interesting times that's for sure.

After Rolo my dad got the job of caretaking super for Hyde Park and Park hill, boy did he have some stories to tell. I used to go down there when I had free time and chat with the caretakers, interesting times that's for sure.

Can you share any of your dads stories wolfstalin, they could be interesting!

Here's a cracker, The Screaming Man.

There were lots of tunnels under the complex, some very old ones that connected up to the old nunnery pit, well all services ran though these tunnels including telephone lines, not just for the complex but for a lot of other things as well.

So there were always telephone engineers down there, and some of these guys were curious of where these old tunnels went.

One fine morning my dad roles up for work and the night shift guys told him they had a 'bad night' "the ghosts were at it again" and they weren't happy campers (ghosts are another story and I'll cover that when I have more time).

Anyways, curiosity aroused, dad goes down into the tunnels to have a look around and hop tails it back to the cabin when he hears this ere whaling sound. Now he didn't believe in anything, talk about show me type of guy, but none the less moaning and whaling down in the tunnels was not something he cared to investigate any further.

Well as time went on, some of the tenants complained about strange sounds coming up from their garbage shutes, but no one took any notice, you know how things go "poor old Dorris, she's hearing voices again"

A couple of days later Dad gets an inc from the management staff, they had someone from BT asking about an engineer who hadn't shown up for work for the last 3 days, yeah you got it, the whaling man.

Anyway course of events were Dad had a look round and found a BT van parked round back where the tunnel entrance was totally stripped, not even any wheels, but the van number was the same as the one the missing engineer drove. Turns out he became curious and then lost, his torch gave out after a few hours, then set in the whaling, LOL.

They brought in the mountain rescue people to get him out, a day later found him not in a very fit state at all, incohearant and totaly lost the plot, poor chap.

Mexican Des?

Des lived on HPF, didn't he, not PHF? His flat was opposite mine, immediately above the rent office area.

Yeah, Des was on the Hyde Park. The last time I saw him he was a bouncer at a Sheffield club - think it was Flares but can't swear to it. That was years ago though and I am sure that someone who I used to work with told me that he had sadly died :(

If it's true it's a shame because he was a great bloke - the kind who looked like he would quite happily rip your spleen out if you pee'd him off but he never failed to carry my nans shopping if he ever saw her bless him :)

Yeah, Des was on the Hyde Park. The last time I saw him he was a bouncer at a Sheffield club - think it was Flares but can't swear to it. That was years ago though and I am sure that someone who I used to work with told me that he had sadly died :(

If it's true it's a shame because he was a great bloke - the kind who looked like he would quite happily rip your spleen out if you pee'd him off but he never failed to carry my nans shopping if he ever saw her bless him :)

yes caronlel, your colleague was, sadly, correct, Des passed away about 2/3 years ago. (I can't remember exactly, but I remember reading his Obit)

I used to remember him shouting his order down to the shopkeepers place, below his flat (he lived directly over the shops, on the lowest level of Bungay Row IIRC) and I remember them coming to the front of the flower beds, and throwing the cigs or whatever up to him! (sometimes if it were a larger item, he's lower a bag/ basket)

that always used to tickle me when i saw it.

Des used to go in The Raven. There was a story one day that he had died in prison and about two years later in he walked! What a character. Did he used to have pink car?

Des used to go in The Raven. There was a story one day that he had died in prison and about two years later in he walked! What a character. Did he used to have pink car?

I know des definitely passed away about 18 months (? time flies by!) ago, and there was an Obit in "hatch match and despatch" in the Star commemorating him.

I don't know about any pink car he owned, incidentally.

Does anyone remember Pek, Huggins, Angus boys, Gary Walker, Little Larry one of the caretakers- it had the spirit of a true community.

I may be going too:cool: far back for you young pups but did any of you go to the dances held in the community centres in Park Hill and Hyde Park?:cool:;)

des lived ar firth park when he died a few years ago . the last club he worked at i remember was millionaires (beore it wa flares ). i was a taxi driver when he worked on the doors .last time i saw him he was sat outside the somerfield helping the old uns and telling the young uns to have respect . top guy des r.i.p

I know des definitely passed away about 18 months (? time flies by!) ago, and there was an Obit in "hatch match and despatch" in the Star commemorating him.

I don't know about any pink car he owned, incidentally.

It was much longer ago than that, more like end of '01 early '02 at the latest, he's been gone a while now.

He used to train at the gym i used to go to on 'Cross. There was a massive procession at his funeral, walking along Hinde House at firth park among other places.

Didnt really know him, tbh, but he did seem like a bit of a loud mouth, Once shouted at me out of his car window for walking over a zebra crossing cos i had made him stop!!lol. And i wasnt a kid or anything, fully grown man.

yes des did have a pink caddilac.he had tatoo of an eye on his bottom remember him showing every one in pub. /domino pub /

I used to work on there as a joiner for the council and one that allways stood out for me was JOSIE....she used to wander around the grounds with a stereo singing and swearing....The kids were awful to her though...shouting EYEBROWS!!!
She wore that much make-up she looked like Joker from Batman.
Anybody else remember her.

I used to work on there as a joiner for the council and one that allways stood out for me was JOSIE....she used to wander around the grounds with a stereo singing and swearing....The kids were awful to her though...shouting EYEBROWS!!!
She wore that much make-up she looked like Joker from Batman.
Anybody else remember her.

I remember Josie with all the make-up, think she got herself a toyboy at one stage? lol

I may be going too:cool: far back for you young pups but did any of you go to the dances held in the community centres in Park Hill and Hyde Park?:cool:;)

Yep! I frequented to the Park Hill dance, must be around 1968ish, that would be after a few pints in the Link, always had a stinking head the next day at school.
Great times.

I lived on parkhill for the first 10 years of my life we lived on norwich just above the park. i loved it, there was a real sense of community in them days.
The lifts always used to stink of urine though:gag::gag:

Does anyone remember Pek, Huggins, Angus boys, Gary Walker, Little Larry one of the caretakers- it had the spirit of a true community.

I used to be in the same class as Pek and Gary. (Hurlfield)

Jayne

I remember Josie with all the make-up, think she got herself a toyboy at one stage? lol

Yeah,

Josie. Used to sit in the playground, and sing along to her tape player. She didn't half swear if anyone upset her!!

Jayne

i lived on the flats for the first few years of my life and from what i can remember of it the place was great. my dad and his family were very wellknown figures on the flats and it was like everyone was looking out for me when i was out playing down on the swings o in the football courts. if anyone remembers me or my family(Lindleys) it would be good to hear a few stories and memorys. my dad always had his heart in the flats and i think he wishes we never moved

not sure if its park hill or hyde park,but i remember gary bamford,mick,maggie & noel barton,gary cronin & mark windle,also the tattooist who had a studio under the flats,was it hobbo or summat? kept getting done for various "things" he would take as payment for a tattoo.

Did anyone grow on Parkhill Flats in the 70's,80's have any memories of the weird and wonderful characters on there, i.e. Jog me memory of any events and people (Characters) and bring back the fun as a young Lad growing up on there..Park Lad!

park hill dance on a friday with robert king playing the drums.Someone should write a book it would be a great read.:)

i lived on the flats for the first few years of my life and from what i can remember of it the place was great. my dad and his family were very wellknown figures on the flats and it was like everyone was looking out for me when i was out playing down on the swings o in the football courts. if anyone remembers me or my family(Lindleys) it would be good to hear a few stories and memorys. my dad always had his heart in the flats and i think he wishes we never moved

my hearts still in the flats too.i remember Geoff and Charlie.Great times.