Am banking on you lot for some help in finding a photo of one of the road signs bearing the immortal words, 'WELCOME TO THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SOUTH YORKSHIRE'. Seem to think the might also have had, 'nuclear free zone' on them aswell and were situated on many major entrance routes to the city.

I've scoured sheffieldpicture for one but no luck so any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks everyone in anticipation.

Did they really have signs 'Welcome To The Socialist Republic Of South Yorkshire?? (lol), I don't ever remember them, if they did, I too would love to find a pic of one to send to friends.

So, come on you people help out here please.

I think that's something of an urban myth.

The signs definitely said "welcome to South Yorkshire"

There were signs saying "nuclear-free zone", but no, there were none that actually said "Soc' republic" (unless someone graffittized the signs)

I wonder if there was a "mock-up" sign made, just for the photos?

PT

I was that graffiti artist. Well, on a couple of signs anyway. We were creating paradise. Cheap bus fares and all that. Shame that it was ripped away from us. Who knows how good (or bad) things might have turned out.

I thought it couldn't be true about the signs, what a pity though they would have made national news and been a good laugh.

Does anyone remember the daffodils the men on Community Service planted in Brinsworth, Rotherham a few years back? ... when they came up in the spring they were planted in such a way that they spelt dirty words about the establishment, it was really funny but the miserable Rotherham Council had them hastily removed before the national press could get down to take photographs ... it would have finally put us on the map for once and was hilarious.

Originally posted by Billy24
I thought it couldn't be true about the signs, what a pity though they would have made national news and been a good laugh.

But it was true. We (me and some other others) made some minor alterations to road signs.

wasnt wath upon derne actually the socialist republic of south yorkshire?

one of my mates from there always said it was anyway lol

Big up 2 you superCol. I don't suppose you've got any photos at all. Started to think my husband may have been mistaken with a case of wishful thinking. I ought to have known he wouldn't have misread. There must be a record of these somewhere, perhaps police evidence files. Are these available do you know?

When the new Mosborough estates were being built around Crystal Peaks in the early 80's, some of the road signs were printed in Russian as well as English. (that is true)

A joke went round saying that they were there so the russian tanks would know the way to the town hall.

This may have helped perpertrate the myth

Originally posted by docmel
some of the road signs were printed in Russian as well as English. (that is true)



there was and still is one.
Donetsk Way (between Hackenthorpe and Moss Way) is named after Sheffield's Twin City in the Ukraine and still has the second name plate with Cyrillic script in place.

Originally posted by cgksheff
there was and still is one.
Donetsk Way (between Hackenthorpe and Moss Way) is named after Sheffield's Twin City in the Ukraine and still has the second name plate with Cyrillic script in place.

Do I detect an air of displeasure here with the 'one' in bold type??

I was only commenting an what seemed to be an amusing thread - bugger me if someone cannot take a joke.

Originally posted by docmel
Do I detect an air of displeasure here with the 'one' in bold type??

I was only commenting an what seemed to be an amusing thread - bugger me if someone cannot take a joke.

think hes just emphasizing theres one left rather than 2 or 3 or none

I was happy to confirm a vague suggestion.

I wait with bated breath for somone to tell me of any others.

No malice intended

kyko

OK - sorry I jumped - its just that a few of the posters on here take themeselves far too seriously when we get onto the subject of Sheffield and its political leanings

I remember that sign from a few years ago! When you come off the M18? from Doncaster it was about half way down the hill. I thought at the time — how true!

yep, that was one of them.

still no pics tho.

I recall, with some humour, the Nuclear Free Zone signs one of which was placed at the Yorkshire, Derbyshire border just beyond Hollow Meadows on the A57 (Glossop Road).

I had this image of, if there was a nuclear bomb dropped on Manchester (well, I'm sure such thoughts are quite natural aren't they?) then would the fall out stop at the edges of this very sign, like some curtain? I'd be stood there thinking, 'Well, better not venture to the Ladybower Inn then, but I'm safe stood here in this Nuclear Free Zone!'

I'd probably feel quite smug in the knowledge that I'm alive due to South Yorkshire being a NFZ whilst the cast of Coronation Street are inhaling fall-out whilst trying to learn their lines.

It has to be said that IMO, the city council of the day was very socialist and that nobody bought their local m.p. a copy of James Herbert's Domain.

The Nuclear Free Zone, Socialist Republic, etc. was after I left Sheffield, but what about the old "Pennine Viet Cong" from the 60s and early 70s? I don't think that they ever did achieve "Home Rule for Yorkshire or "Throw Off the Yoke of English Imperialism". However, if Scotland can have home rule, why not Yorkshire ?

Only kidding!

The official signs at the city boundary used to say SHEFFIELD and underneath in smaller letters, nuclear free zone.
What it was supposed to mean goodness knows, but our sheep were never affected by fallout from Chernobyl.
The Republic of South Yorkshire posters were an advertisement for something, but I can't remember what.
There used to be one at the side of the big Castle Square roundabout as you came off the parkway.

Wasn't there a large red advertising sign that advertised beer saying, Welcome to the Socialist Republic of South Yorkshire?



Happy Days!

I'm sure the add board at the bottom of barrow rd, wincobank had this up for whitebread.s , Welcome to the democratic Socialist Republic of South Yorkshire?

or word's on them line's in the early 80's .

commisarie Glynn

I recall, with some humour, the Nuclear Free Zone signs one of which was placed at the Yorkshire, Derbyshire border just beyond Hollow Meadows on the A57 (Glossop Road).

I had this image of, if there was a nuclear bomb dropped on Manchester (well, I'm sure such thoughts are quite natural aren't they?) then would the fall out stop at the edges of this very sign, like some curtain? I'd be stood there thinking, 'Well, better not venture to the Ladybower Inn then, but I'm safe stood here in this Nuclear Free Zone!'

I'd probably feel quite smug in the knowledge that I'm alive due to South Yorkshire being a NFZ whilst the cast of Coronation Street are inhaling fall-out whilst trying to learn their lines.

It has to be said that IMO, the city council of the day was very socialist and that nobody bought their local m.p. a copy of James Herbert's Domain.

Sorry mate, but a nuclear bomb dropping on Manchester would never have been possible. We had signs up throughout the city, telling everyone that we too were ‘a nuclear free zone’ I was greatly comforted by them!

I found this but sadly no further info...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/doctorow/2825142/

I was wondering if we are still thought of as The Socialist Republic????

More likely, these days, to read ;-

[ You're ] Welcome To The Socially Repulsive Public of South Yorkshire. [ Please Dump Unwanted Rubbish For Recycling As You Leave. Cameras in Operation ].

More likely, these days, to read ;-

[ You're ] Welcome To The Socially Repulsive Public of South Yorkshire. [ Please Dump Unwanted Rubbish For Recycling As You Leave. Cameras in Operation ].

Yes I see what you mean