I’ve trawled practically every topic and can’t find anyone who was a member of the YMCA during the second world war when C.A.Briggs was the assistant secreatry and Leonard J. Gunn its secretary (strange job for a paid-up member of the Communist Party!)

I was the office boy at the time, my first job on leaving school. Fifteen shillings a week and free dinners in the Members’ Restaurant. The snooker room was on the top floor, gained by a single flight of rickety stairs. And what had been a concert room (with balcony and stage) had been transformed into a canteen for the armed services. It was packed every single day!

I was also a junior member of the YM. The section had only recently started aand we were more or less confined to a single room and a half-sized snooker table, although we could use the gymnasium and practiced table-tennis in there.

Ex-wartime servicemen must surely remember it.

Not surprising really, you are likely the oldest active member here although there seems to be a fair sprinkling of 'war babies' :)

It's noticeable though that many more of the over sixties are rising to the challenge of the internet - perhaps we need a campaign to get them interested in the forum, at least this section of it.

Greybeard — not a bad idea but how? Most older people don’t want to know the word computer. My excuse is that I own a graphic design business.

I used to go to the coffee bar in the YMCA in the mid 60's, with my boyfriend Colin Edley and his brother Ron

Hello, I was a member of the YMCA in the sixties, we played table tennis at least twice a week at lunch time, and two evenings a week.

Incidently I know lots of people well over sixty (like myself) who enjoy using the computer,

Over the past few years I have done seven or eight courses covering various aspects of computing, including Word, Publishing, Excel, and now really enjoy using it.

Hi We were enrolled into the YM by one of our school teachers who thought it would be a good way to keep us off the street and out of trouble!! At that time around 1955, Mr. Bennett was in charge of the younger kids section, and I remember a Mr. Hunt along with Charlie Grant. Our teacher sent a group of us down there, we were readily accepted because we were all fairly decent footballers, and played there for many years.

We played table tennis, snooker or billiards, and darts every Tuesday and Saturday nights - until we discovered girls! Each kid was ranked based on their results starting in the fourth division, and trying to work their way up to the top of the first division. I recall some great table tennis players - amongst them,Allan and Jack Cooper, Mick Ball, Chris Ryalls et al. We also had great times at their summer camp at Lake Windermere --- anybody remember??

I’ve trawled practically every topic and can’t find anyone who was a member of the YMCA during the second world war when C.A.Briggs was the assistant secreatry and Leonard J. Gunn its secretary (strange job for a paid-up member of the Communist Party!)

I was the office boy at the time, my first job on leaving school. Fifteen shillings a week and free dinners in the Members’ Restaurant. The snooker room was on the top floor, gained by a single flight of rickety stairs. And what had been a concert room (with balcony and stage) had been transformed into a canteen for the armed services. It was packed every single day!

I was also a junior member of the YM. The section had only recently started aand we were more or less confined to a single room and a half-sized snooker table, although we could use the gymnasium and practiced table-tennis in there.

Ex-wartime servicemen must surely remember it..........................

I know the word Computer. I left Sheffield in '59 to join UNIVAC inZurich. I used to play snooker at ther YMCA Fargate from '43 to '55. A guy called Billy was in charge ofthe top floor snooker room. Peter Glossop the Great Yorkshire Baritone played there as well. He is still with us, just. I used to work as a Chemist at ESC Adsetts Street.

I know the word Computer. I left Sheffield in '59 to join UNIVAC inZurich. I used to play snooker at ther YMCA Fargate from '43 to '55. A guy called Billy was in charge ofthe top floor snooker room. Peter Glossop the Great Yorkshire Baritone played there as well. He is still with us, just. I used to work as a Chemist at ESC Adsetts Street.

Hooray! and Snap! My memory is a bit hazy nowadays but I remember he and I went to the same school. Trouble is, I don’t remember whether it was Hunter’s Bar Infant or Junior or both, or whether it was High Storrs Grammar. Or indeed, whether it’s the same Peter Glossop. I’v checked a website. The age is right, but couldn’t get into any biography. Do you remember the assistant secretary Cyril Briggs? Better still, do you remember me! I was the office boy until I left to take up journalism at the Sheffield Star. I think Cyril Briggs died around the age of 90. Nice, friendly guy who had time to spare for everyone while Len Gunn sat in his office all day, smoking his foul-smelling pipe!

Do you recall Roy Proctor, who was quite a good table-tennis player around 1943. If he’s still iving I’d like to get in touch. And if you were a regular in the restaurant, I eventually married one of its waitresses, Irene Marshall. We later divorced. She died at the age of 75. We were on friendly terms at the time and along with my son I attended her funeral. Happy days, and thanks for the memory!

Apologies for belated reply - the big C intervened- but has retreated temporarily!!

Peter Glossop's - DOB 6 July 1928 Wadsley , Sheffield, (not the "nut house" - though knowing him closley one some times wondered! - joke!), later he called it Hillsborough!!! . He attended High Storrs GS. Was a YMCA (snooker) member and remembered Billy Hill. He became a world famous baritone and sang at La Scala Milan ( he met Maria Callas, and adored, from afar !!!!!) , The Met New York, Covent Garden etc. Played golf (badly) I used to beat him and I am useless at it, snooker (passable), but on the plus side he possessed an excellent right elbow!!. Married and divorced twice. A Lovely man - a typical no-nonsense Yorkshireman, blunt, powerful, but truthful. There is recent paperback biography - "Peter Glossop - The Story of a Yorkshire Baritone" Published in 2004 by Guidon Publishing, 23 West St Oxford OX2 0BQ - £10. ISBN 0-9543617-3-3. You must acquire a copy. Sheffield really should be proud of this man and his achievements. Until recently he lived in East Devon, near Lyme Regis.I don't know where he is at the moment - I understand he is quite ill.

When I hear more I will correspond

I attended Sheffield Junior Technical College, Leopold St early 40's - Hitler closed us down for a few days after reducing The Moor to rubble - but not for long. We didn't give up easily in those days. I am a Yorkshireman through and through , you will have gathered, even though I am an adopted Londoner - The Greatest City in the World - I love both, but Y a teeny bit more!!.

Yes, Mr Briggs, as we called him then, was a Saint. One of the very few truly honest and wise men it has been my privilege to have known. The YM went down when he left, we all felt.

I didn't know many YM people except those up the rickerty stairs in the Snooker Room. Bert Smith, Norman Kay, Doug Turner, and a couple of guys from Wilson Peck's who played in the lunch hour, etc, all of whom may well have now been recipients, hopefully,of the Queen's 100th Birthday Telegram by now, if we still had telegrams !

I used to play (badly) the Bechstein down in the Hall (Note. I'm not the old guy who used to play Hindemith - I was the uoung Gershwin and Rachmaninoff adherent - still am !), and the Kaps in the lounge next to the restaurant. Malcolm Padley's father (do you remember either or both?) used to tell me that I was too heavy with the left hand - he was right of course. I still play the piano - still badly! Do you remember me ?

I was a chemist (my nickname was "Laffer" - because I was prone to smile and laugh as I observed all my colleague's and life's innocent absurdities), when I was in the labs (Industrial Steels Ltd, various Siemens furnaces stages, and Heroult furnace stages, and the Addsetts Street Lab, off Carlisle street (I think) at English Steel Corporation from 1948 -54, after doing an enforced "Ernest Bevin" stint in the coal mines 1944-48, Nunnery Colliery, Handsworth (now sealed off).

The names of my former colleagues in the ESC Ltdf, Chemistry labs were , as I recall were Joe Brown, Steve Riley, Harry Bradshaw, Freddy Earnshaw, Geoff Turner, Percy Roden, George Parkin, Andrew ?, Colin ?, Mr Teddy Nixon(100 +) , Mr Fieldhouse (100+) Jacqueline Harper, Norma Sykes (the Brassy Lassy with the Classy Chassis - for which she slapped my face!), Corrinne, "Ginger" Melvin, Mr Darwent, Mr Tommy Hooper, and many more whoe names I fail, sadly, to remember due to my cerebral frailties.

This is a fairly long response and rather late to your reply to my original massage. If you, or anybody reading this , can to assist in contacting any of the people mentined above I would be most grateful. I am 80 years of age in 6 days and would simply would love to meet and chat to my old friends and fellow sufferers of the 50's. I plan to drive to Sheffield late 06/early 07! My Golf Hcp is 15, give or take a few Gotchas !!

My very best regards,
LONDON.
Ps. I have peed in the next stall to (Sir) John Barbirolli at the City Hall one evening in the 50's - I didn't look over - I can't vouch for him!!
Pss. I attended the concert Mario Lanza gave at the City Hall with just a piano accompaniment - Fabulous - No microphone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have never forgotten that performance.
I love Sheffield. Please respond ????.

Au revoir, London.

Thanks for you reply London - I'm afraid you were a bit before my time. I went to the "Y" in the early 60's. Sorry I don't know any of the people you mentioned.
Bye for now

Apologies for belated reply - the big C intervened- but has retreated temporarily!!

Peter Glossop's - DOB 6 July 1928 Wadsley , Sheffield, (not the "nut house" - though knowing him closley one some times wondered! - joke!), later he called it Hillsborough!!! . He attended High Storrs GS. Was a YMCA (snooker) member and remembered Billy Hill. He became a world famous baritone and sang at La Scala Milan ( he met Maria Callas, and adored, from afar !!!!!) , The Met New York, Covent Garden etc. Played golf (badly) I used to beat him and I am useless at it, snooker (passable), but on the plus side he possessed an excellent right elbow!!. Married and divorced twice. A Lovely man - a typical no-nonsense Yorkshireman, blunt, powerful, but truthful. There is recent paperback biography - "Peter Glossop - The Story of a Yorkshire Baritone" Published in 2004 by Guidon Publishing, 23 West St Oxford OX2 0BQ - £10. ISBN 0-9543617-3-3. You must acquire a copy. Sheffield really should be proud of this man and his achievements. Until recently he lived in East Devon, near Lyme Regis.I don't know where he is at the moment - I understand he is quite ill.

When I hear more I will correspond

I attended Sheffield Junior Technical College, Leopold St early 40's - Hitler closed us down for a few days after reducing The Moor to rubble - but not for long. We didn't give up easily in those days. I am a Yorkshireman through and through , you will have gathered, even though I am an adopted Londoner - The Greatest City in the World - I love both, but Y a teeny bit more!!.

Yes, Mr Briggs, as we called him then, was a Saint. One of the very few truly honest and wise men it has been my privilege to have known. The YM went down when he left, we all felt.

I didn't know many YM people except those up the rickerty stairs in the Snooker Room. Bert Smith, Norman Kay, Doug Turner, and a couple of guys from Wilson Peck's who played in the lunch hour, etc, all of whom may well have now been recipients, hopefully,of the Queen's 100th Birthday Telegram by now, if we still had telegrams !

I used to play (badly) the Bechstein down in the Hall (Note. I'm not the old guy who used to play Hindemith - I was the uoung Gershwin and Rachmaninoff adherent - still am !), and the Kaps in the lounge next to the restaurant. Malcolm Padley's father (do you remember either or both?) used to tell me that I was too heavy with the left hand - he was right of course. I still play the piano - still badly! Do you remember me ?

I was a chemist (my nickname was "Laffer" - because I was prone to smile and laugh as I observed all my colleague's and life's innocent absurdities), when I was in the labs (Industrial Steels Ltd, various Siemens furnaces stages, and Heroult furnace stages, and the Addsetts Street Lab, off Carlisle street (I think) at English Steel Corporation from 1948 -54, after doing an enforced "Ernest Bevin" stint in the coal mines 1944-48, Nunnery Colliery, Handsworth (now sealed off).

The names of my former colleagues in the ESC Ltdf, Chemistry labs were , as I recall were Joe Brown, Steve Riley, Harry Bradshaw, Freddy Earnshaw, Geoff Turner, Percy Roden, George Parkin, Andrew ?, Colin ?, Mr Teddy Nixon(100 +) , Mr Fieldhouse (100+) Jacqueline Harper, Norma Sykes (the Brassy Lassy with the Classy Chassis - for which she slapped my face!), Corrinne, "Ginger" Melvin, Mr Darwent, Mr Tommy Hooper, and many more whoe names I fail, sadly, to remember due to my cerebral frailties.

This is a fairly long response and rather late to your reply to my original massage. If you, or anybody reading this , can to assist in contacting any of the people mentined above I would be most grateful. I am 80 years of age in 6 days and would simply would love to meet and chat to my old friends and fellow sufferers of the 50's. I plan to drive to Sheffield late 06/early 07! My Golf Hcp is 15, give or take a few Gotchas !!

My very best regards,
LONDON.
Ps. I have peed in the next stall to (Sir) John Barbirolli at the City Hall one evening in the 50's - I didn't look over - I can't vouch for him!!
Pss. I attended the concert Mario Lanza gave at the City Hall with just a piano accompaniment - Fabulous - No microphone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have never forgotten that performance.
I love Sheffield. Please respond ????.

Au revoir, London.

Sorry London, I don’t know any of the names you mentioned — except of course Cyril Briggs and Peter Glossop. When I left the YM I went to the Sheffield Star and from there into the R.N. I certainly remember the rickety stairs up to the top floor snooker hall though. My first wife was a waitress in the restaurant. Her name was Irene Marshall and she had red hair — if that rings any bells?

Thanks Peterw for reply. Sorry I don't recall Irene, but I do remember a gorgeous red headed girl who was a member of the YWCA - we called her Rusty -. never knew her other names. Last time I saw her she was working in the Ladies cosmetics depart ment at John Walsh's department store, in mid 1950's. Could she have been Irene? A number of us used to go to the YWCA before we were called up. Last time I was there was VE Day!!

Only just read your posts, as a new member of Sheff. Forum. I joined YMCA in 1945. Got a story to tell about a bloke conning me. He sold me the Founder members cue, but it got sorted. More if youre interested John.

I used to go to the coffee bar in the YMCA in the mid 60's, with my boyfriend Colin Edley and his brother Ron

I remember Ron Edley, what has happened to him? Do you remember any of these?

David Peck
Peter Courtenay
Chris Jones
Jim Tyrrell (R.I.P)
Rod Amis (R.I.P)
Howard Roney
Hugh Stoddart
Roger Brooks
Pete Hollis

Peter Cody was the general manager, Derek Stevenson was the secretary (to be replaced by a guy who was sacked because of his liking for young boys :help:), Pop Bennett was in charge of the football section and the coffee bar was named the Ye Mao (or something of the like).

Hiya Crookesey. Sorry, all these names before my time, but the name of COURTENAY????. Only a few days ago,I related a story on Manor Estate thread, of how in the late 30's, a boy of this name was killed at the side o me by a bus. It is'nt a common name, so wonder by any chance if ther is a connection there?. Also, in the last few days, Peter Glossop's name has cropped up. He went on to be a very famous baritone and I've just posted the enquirer, to find him on You tube. Still got another story about the bloke who conned me in the snooker room!. Bye John.

Sorry, Correction. Meant to say the names were after my time.

Any stories/memories of dear old "Pop" Bennett. Derek Dooley wrote of "pop" with great affection in his autobiography a few years ago. "Pop" was a bit of a legend at the YMCA, yet he lived quietly in Firth Park Road. How many youngsters did that man help!

colin edley is my brother in law married my sister ann forty years ago,Ron is ok shebba

Ron is my older brother and worked with me at our company untill he retired last year , now plays golf , caravans and is having a great time , he pops in most weeks to see his work collegues and me .

All best

ian edley

i remember ron edley, what has happened to him? Do you remember any of these?

David peck
peter courtenay
chris jones
jim tyrrell (r.i.p)
rod amis (r.i.p)
howard roney
hugh stoddart
roger brooks
pete hollis

peter cody was the general manager, derek stevenson was the secretary (to be replaced by a guy who was sacked because of his liking for young boys :help:), pop bennett was in charge of the football section and the coffee bar was named the ye mao (or something of the like).

See above
yes ron is alive and well in sheffield
worked at the family business with his 2 brothers untill last year
all best

ian edley

colin edley is my brother in law married my sister ann forty years ago,ron is ok shebba

Hi zeiger
how is your mum,not spoke to her for awhile?
shebba

I used to go to the coffee bar in the YMCA in the mid 60's, with my boyfriend Colin Edley and his brother Ron
Hello.

Ron is my eldest brother. He's married with kids and grandkids, and lives in Handsworth, in retirement. Ian lives over in Rotherham, and Colin, up in Hawsker, near Whitby.

Best regards,

Mark Edley.